Group Targets Abortion Waiting Period Requirement
The Texas House Women’s Health Caucus has announced plans to try to repeal the 24-hour waiting period imposed by the abortion sonogram law that legislators approved in 2011.
“It’s just ridiculous that we do things to women to manipulate their minds instead of trusting that they already have made a very difficult decision,” state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, the chairwoman of the caucus, said Wednesday at a news conference. “For a body that does not want to expand Medicaid today … we are doing everything we can to increase those Medicaid numbers with the policies that are in opposition ...
Comments (22)
Alana Carpenter via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Damn Uppity Women- don't let men keep us down!
Martha Laramore Range via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sorry, but this will lead to abortion by assembly line. Wholesale slaughter of unwanted children. That's really what our country is doing.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Martha, there's just no evidence whatsoever to support your claim. None. What. So. Ever. Not to mention that a fetus is not a child, as an egg is not a chicken, as an acorn is not an oak tree. If the anti-choice crowd put as much effort into helping women have access to services to help them prevent pregnancy as they do into shaming women who chose (for whatever reason) to have an abortion, our society would be so much better for it. That the anti-choice crowd doesn't shows they are far less interested in reducing abortions (because they best way to do that is to reduce unwanted pregnancies in the first place) than they are in shaming women for having the audacity to be in control of their own sexuality and for having sex (often not while married).
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
A fetus is a child. It is undeniably human. The "pro-life crowd" does provide help to young women who are pregnant. As far as pregnancy prevention, that is a simple act that the women can chose to undertake or not. Nothing mythical about that. Women need to take responsibility for their actions. Actions have consequences. If you want to go out and have sex with out proper protection then you run the risk of pregnancy. That is the consequence of having control of your "sexuality".
Candyce Byrne via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Good on them! So glad to see push back on the obscene Republican offensive against women. We need to connect with each other and sweep the clowns out of office.
Sandy Burton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Is it possible the proverbial pendulum is beginning to swing the other way? It's long overdue. I'm with you Renee and Candyce.
Rhonda Warmack Houston
None of the Republicans both male and females within the United States of America, respect or adhere to the U S. Consitution where it says, there will be Separation of Church and State. Imposing ones values of one onto someone else is going against the letter of the law, which means that when one imposes their values on another there is no FREEDOM. I have never lived in a state of the US that is more controlling of others and manipulative of others, than what Texas does today. Half of the US population's health is in the long term, going to cause premature deaths as well as more crime in this state will rise, from the action of those at the top 'with power' who are using their input to control and take away freedoms, and thus hurt rather than solve problems which exist today. Ruling people with Religion is going to come back to bite those at the top in the long run, because when the top doesn't make sure those have what they need to live their life, but go against what is economically needed, then there is less crime and less children not wanted, who down the road, will be those individuals who will be those who cause those crmes later on. My prediction is that within 15 yrs, Texas, will have more crime than the police will be able to controll and be able to house in prisions in Texas. Also, when a panel is be able to look back during this same timeframe of what was done to 'the people' there will be evidence of more female deaths for uncared for illnesses and more crimes committed. The interesting part of all of these results, will be that those top won't understand 'what they did wrong' as they see themselves attempting to answer most of this questions when these questions are posed to them. Religion, controlling, and bullying will no doubt come back to haut Texas and the crime in Texas will have multiplied. (voter, mother, grandmother, Vietnam veteran)
Peter Pesola via Texas Tribune on Facebook
tell me this is not a child!: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=577121425634295&set=a.556758717670566.134536.100000093275806&type=1&theater this is what you are aborting/murdering
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, thanks for proving my point that restricting abortion is all about punishing women. Here's a thought: when you have a fetus in your uterus, you can make the decision for it. If you don't have a uterus, it's none of your damned business.
Christie Smith
Matthew - you're getting tiresome. You state, " If you want to go out and have sex with out proper protection then you run the risk of pregnancy. That is the consequence of having control of your "sexuality"."
Hmm, so it's entirely up to the woman to prevent pregnancy? The man has ZERO responsibility?? Furthermore, with the defunding of the women's health program, low income women can afford birth control from exactly WHAT provider???
I agree with Rep Farrar. I have never known any woman whatsoever who just woke up one day and went, 'gee looks like a great day to have an abortion!' and blithely went over whistling to the local clinic. It is an agonizing choice for any woman, and to suggest she doesn't know her own mind already by imposing a 24 hour waiting period such as is currently law is frankly patronism of the worst kind. Born with a brain along *with* the vagina, thanks.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It is not about punishing the women. It is about responsibility. The two are different. But you exhibit the typical liberal mindset. You want all the perks but none of the responsibility or accountability.
I tell you what. It will stop being my damn business when you stop asking everyone else to pay for your choices.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, you aren't the arbiter of how/when a woman is being responsible. You are the arbiter for yourself only, and no one else. You don't get to decide what is responsible behavior for anyone else. Of course, it's only the women who are irresponsible, not the men. And no one is asking you to pay for their choices, so no, it's none of your damned business when, how or why a woman has an abortion. Not your uterus, not your business.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sure I am an arbiter. It is my money you are wanting to spend for your irresponsible behavior. And yes it is the women who are irresponsible. They have every opportunity to say no or control the situation. But you and your crowd are demanding that we pay for your sexual proclivities including abortion.
As to the procedure, Then you must be okay with 25% of pregnancies being aborted. You must be okay with 3 million babies being aborted. Because you advocate for abortion that really says a lot about the lack of morality on your part. That is pretty destructive for society as a whole. But again that is the liberal mindset!
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, I can't decide if you're ignorant or just a controlling asshole. No one is asking for your money to pay for anything - that's the ignorant part, if you truly believe that. And you do not get to decide what is or is not irresponsible behavior for anyone other than yourself. You don't get to decide how or why someone should have made any decision, especially since you don't know a damned thing about what went into any given woman's decision making. Women don't need people like you treating them like they're incapable of making their own medical decisions. Believe it or not, women actually were born with brains and know how to use them.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Renee, I am neither but you on the other hand, based upon your writing must have very low morals and low character and that is evident through your attempts to defend or justify abortion.
You and your crowd keep clamoring that tax payers pay for your reproductive health care services such as birth control and abortion services. That is why I as a tax payer get to interject into the discussion. Also since the medical profession is a regulated profession in Texas, its services are regulated based upon the protection of the public's health and safety. Therefore I have a vested interest in how medical procedures are regulated.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I do find it curious that you are silent on the morality of the issue
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So you're just a judgmental, arrogant asshole. Got it. (And you truly are ignorant if you believe you're being asked to pay for anyone's reproductive decisions. That is patently false.)
Samdavis
So if it's about responsibility why doesn't the state mandate medically-based sex-ed in school and make sure women and men have access to low cost birth control? Isn't that a whole lot cheaper than paying for unplanned pregnancies and supporting children? Isn't that responsible behavior?
Instead we get idiots like Matthew who cry "Fetus, fetus, fetus" and disregard that medicine doesn't regard a fetus as a human; however, the Southern Baptist Church does so why look at facts?
If you're not going to support prevention of pregnancies, unwilling to provide good pre and postnatal care, and against expanded healthcare then your lack of intelligence qualifies you to be a Republican like the trolls we see here regularly.
Anya Khan
They want to make sure any baby that can be slaughtered is slaughtered.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Judgmental? LOL you are the one who has been judgmental. In fact you post where you call me judgmental you are in fact being judgmental!!
Sam Davis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew Cowan, isn't it time for some other TEA Party troll to crawl out from their rock and kiss Perry's butt in every column. Your lips have got to be really chapped.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sam, it seems that you ignorance is only rivaled by your stupidity!