MONDAY TOP NEWS LINKS:
There was a lot of drama in Austin on Sunday as abortion politics took over much of the remaining agenda of the special legislative session. And already we are hearing the Lt Governor calling for another if these bills do not pass.
Video: KVUE Austin
Texas Tribune Staff
After nine hours of debate, the House tentatively approved Senate Bill 5 — the omnibus abortion restriction bill — early Monday morning. The approval came after contentious debate while opponents of the legislation observed from the gallery. They erupted in applause and jeers several times during the back-and-forth.
Now, lawmakers are in a race with the clock to approve — or stymie — the legislation before the special session ends on Tuesday.
“This bill will ensure that women are given the highest standard of health care in a very vulnerable time in their life,” state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, said before the House approved SB 5, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks and increase regulations on abortion facilities and providers who perform abortions.
(Photo: Marjorie Kamys Cotera, Texas Tribune)
If the bill is to reach Gov. Rick Perry before the special ends, the House must approve SB 5 on third reading on Monday. The House adjourned at about 4:30 a.m. and is scheduled to reconvene at 6:46 a.m. After the House finally approves the bill, the Senate must then wait 24 hours before accepting the changes to the legislation that were approved by the lower chamber.
State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, told dozens of protestors who gathered outside of the House after the bill passed that efforts to delay the legislation in the House made it conceivable that a senator could filibuster the legislation.
“It really mattered what you did,” Farrar, the chairwoman of the House women’s health caucus, told the crowd.
Laubenberg postponed the other abortion legislation, House Bills 60 and 16, until after the special session ends. The House also finally passed Senate Bill 23 to create new sentencing options for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder and Senate Joint Resolution 2 to finance state transportation.
Follow the liveblog here for a detailed accounting of the night’s action. The liveblog will resume when the House reconvenes, so check back here for updates.
(Read more of this story at Texas Tribune)
• Abortion Bills Draw Scores of People to Texas Capitol (KUT Austin)
• Emotional abortion debate continues in Legislature (Chron.com)
• Hundreds protest Texas abortion restrictions (AP/KTRK 13)
• Hundreds protest Texas abortion restrictions (Austin Statesman)
• Dewhurst: 2nd special session likely if key bills die (Austin Statesman)
LOCAL AREA HEADLINES:
- Death toll climbs at San Luis Pass (Chron.com)
- Health department investigates possible food poisoning at Humble restaurant (KPRC 2 News)
- Churches in northwest Houston community say they are being targeted by thieves (KTRK 13 News)
- Patient prescribes protest over drug mix-up (Your Houston News)
- Grieving Mom Fights for ‘Life Over Fashion’ with Petition Against Nike (New 92 FM)
- Church volunteers fix Harris County couple’s deteriorating home (KTRK 13 News)
- 45th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Gala takes place in Houston (KPRC 2 News)
- Galveston Island could become medical tourism Mecca (Houston Chronicle)
STATE HEADLINES:
- What The New Charter School Bill Could Mean For Texas (KUHF Public Radio)
- Health Care: Insurance rebates to Texans to total $46 million (Chron.com)
- Inmate sexual assault: Clements Unit among nation’s worst, survey says (Amarillo Globe)
- Fallen Texas firefighters remembered at annual conference (KRIV 26 News)
NATION & WORLD:
- Poll shows Americans conflicted over immigration debate (USA Today)
- Government begins education blitz for uninsured (USA Today)
- Mandela’s Condition Is Reported to Deteriorate to ‘Critical’ (New York Times)
- What to Expect from the President’s Big Climate Change Speech (The Atlantic)