Abortion

Rick Perry Calls Second Special Session for Round Two of Abortion Bill Fight

Republican Gov. Rick Perry has called a second special session, calling legislators back to the capitol to continue his dogged fight to decimate access to safe, legal abortion in Texas.

After Sen. Wendy Davis' epic filibuster ran out the clock on the Texas Legislature's first special session on Tuesday, Governor Rick Perry (above) has called a second special session, calling legislators back to the capitol to continue his dogged fight to decimate access to safe, legal abortion in Texas. Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

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After state Sen. Wendy Davis’ epic filibuster ran out the clock on the Texas legislature’s first special session on Tuesday, Republican Gov. Rick Perry has called a second special session, calling legislators back to the capitol to continue his dogged fight to decimate access to safe, legal abortion in Texas. There are three issues at stake: the proposed omnibus anti-abortion bill and two more bills, one which deals with transportation and the other with the sentencing of juvenile capital offenders.

Perry could call the session to address only the transportation and juvenile offenders bill, but that’s not the plan. He said, via press release:

I am calling the Legislature back into session because too much important work remains undone for the people of Texas. Through their duly elected representatives, the citizens of our state have made crystal clear their priorities for our great state. Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn. Texans want a transportation system that keeps them moving. Texans want a court system that is fair and just. We will not allow the breakdown of decorum and decency to prevent us from doing what the people of this state hired us to do.

In the wake of his announcement, Sen. Davis released a statement saying that Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst “derailed as much as much as $1 billion per year in transportation funding by stubbornly pushing divisive, failed legislation attacking women’s health care options.” If Republicans “intend to keep pushing their extreme personal political agenda ahead of the interests of Texas families,” she said, “I will not back off of my duty to fight on their behalf.”

The second special session will begin Monday, July 1 at 2 p.m. CST.