Surrounded by Republican lawmakers, Gov. Rick Perry signs the state's new abortion regulations into law July 18.[/caption]Gov. Rick Perry signed into law July 18 a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and strengthening the regulations placed on abortion clinics, calling it a major victory for the anti-abortion movement.
"For all of you who stood up and made a difference, no one will ever have to ask, 'Where were you when babies' lives were being saved?'" Perry said to loud applause and cheering inside an auditorium in the state Capitol.
Moments later, he signed the bill with a flourish, flanked by three dozen conservative lawmakers and in front of a crowd of supporters.
Protesters in the hallway outside the room punctuated his remarks with shouts of "Shame!" and "The blood of Texas women is on your hands!"
The protesters were dressed in black, with black tape over their mouths, and they carried signs and wire hangers.
"When Gov. Perry signed the bill, he signaled a clear break with Texas families," said Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, whose filibuster of the bill last month captured the attention of pro-choice activists throughout the nation. "Gov. Perry and other state leaders have now taken sides and chosen narrow partisan special interests over mothers, daughters, sisters and every Texan who puts the health of their family, the well-being of their neighbors and the future of Texas ahead of politics and personal ambitions."
The bill requires that abortion clinics meet the same standards as ambulatory surgery centers, a move abortion-rights advocates fear will cause the closure of all but about five of the clinics in Texas.
Opponents have vowed to challenge the new law in court.
"We believe parts of this law are unconstitutional, and [we] are working to stop it from taking effect," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of former Gov. Ann Richards.
Lawmakers tried to pass the bill in June during the first special session of the Legislature but were unable to make the deadline after Davis staged a filibuster that drew hundreds of supporters to the Capitol and killed the bill.
Perry called lawmakers back for a second special to deal with the same bill, among other items. It took lawmakers two weeks to get to his desk a bill that is one of the most stringent anti-abortion policies in the nation.
Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, the bill's Senate sponsor, recalled the difficulty lawmakers had in trying to pass the bill in spite of the thousands of protesters that showed up regularly to oppose it.
Its passage, he said, was a hard-fought victory.
"The power of prayer was immense that day," Hegar said.
