The fetal pain bill, introduced yesterday in the legislature yesterday after much political build-up, should be strong this session.
Unsurprisingly, pro-choice legislators, like Democrat Jessica Farrar, are introducing pro-choice bills as bargaining chips in their attempt to water down the life-saving measure even Brits embrace.
Unsurprisingly, the state’s biggest pro-life group, Texas Right to Life, is leading the charge for the fetal pain bill.
What is surprising, however, is that Texas’ number 2 pro-choice advocacy group, Texas Alliance for Life (TAL), isn’t supporting the bill at all.
The reason TAL is withholding support? Evidently, they don’t think the fetal pain bill can pass constitutional muster.
A Dallas Morning News article this morning reported similar sentiments, but put them in the mouth of pro-choice advocates, saying, “Abortion rights groups have challenged such laws as unconstitutionally restrictive.”
Pro-choice groups consistently appeal to heavily disputed constitutional interpretations contained in Roe v. Wade, and related decisions, as the basis for their opposition to pro-life bills. This is often the heart and soul of their legislative strategy.
On the other hand, finding cracks in the interpretation of Roe v. Wade, and related decisions, is the heart and soul of pro-life legislative strategy.
Texas Alliance for Life giving such deference to constitutional interpretations that the pro-life movement is dedicated to circumventing or overturning is surprising.
Speaker Straus is rumored to have told pro-life legislators before the session that they need not expect movement in the 83rd Legislature.
Texas Alliance for Life endorsed Joe Straus ahead of his primary last May after having opposed him in the speaker’s race just months earlier.
Joe Pojman, executive director of TAL, said of Straus during the first speaker’s race, “Straus cannot be called pro-life. He had failed to pledge to oppose public funding for Planned Parenthood, received a $1,000 campaign contribution from a Planned Parenthood PAC, and has been given high praise by Planned parenthood for his ‘tireless efforts’ during the last (81st) legislative session.”
While the 82nd Legislature was a big pro-life session, many pro-lifers believe it was in spite of the speaker, not because of him, though, as speaker, he was able to collect a portion of the credit for these achievements, achievements that were nearly impossible to stop with 101 Republicans.
The fetal pain bill is quite strong already.
Governor Perry yesterday reiterated his strong support for the bill, which would outlaw abortions in Texas after 20 weeks.
Additionally, A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll says that Texas voter support is politically overwhelming, better than doubling Texas voter opposition to the bill at 57%-26%.
The pro-life movement in nine other states has gotten fetal pain legislation passed already. Pro-life Texans have good reason to think we will be the tenth.
–Life News article with TAL opposition to Joe Straus, endorsement of opponent, in 2010 speaker’s race
–TAL endorsement of Joe Straus months later
–DMN article