Texas Passes Abortion Bill

Well, we didn't expect it to happen a second time. The abortion bill successfully blocked last month by Wendy Davis and the Democratic bloc of the Texas legislature was given final passage by its Senate on Friday. The vote stood 19–11. Among other restrictions, the bill, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Perry, bans abortions after 20 weeks and subjects abortion clinics to the standards of hospital surgical centers. Although the bill was ostensibly intended to protect women's health, Perry said after its passage that it would "defend our smallest and most vulnerable Texans and future Texans."