House and Senate Unite On Abortion Sonogram Bill

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, and Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston joined forces this morning to ask the House to accept all of the Senate's amendments to the abortion sonogram bill, virtually ensuring it's headed to Gov. Rick Perry's desk.

“This will be one of the strongest sonogram bills in the nation,” Miller said.

If the full House concurs with the Senate version of House Bill 15 — likely, considering this morning's press conference, abortion sonogram will be the first emergency item to reach Perry for a signature. “I may be inspired to wear my cowboy hat,” Patrick said ...

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Comments (33)

May 4, 2011 @ 10:03 a.m.

Tim Hurst via Texas Tribune on Facebook

disgusting old white men. Our own Taliban
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:03 a.m.

Charlene Cheek via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Wonderful news!
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:04 a.m.

Rick Chafey via Texas Tribune on Facebook

If this is Texans' new definition of freedom from government, we will adapt very nicely to Chinese rule.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:10 a.m.

Ann Pittman-Thompson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Yep. Funny to me that we espouse less government and yet this is government involvement in one of the most personal decisions. Can we spell hypocrite?
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:10 a.m.

Lee B. Weaver via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And by 'strongest', we mean 'worst'!
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:11 a.m.

Jalapeno Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Since when do they get to practice medicine. TMF should stomp down on this immediately! this is invasion of personal privacy...
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:12 a.m.

Carolyn Moon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What happened to get the government off our backs? Oh, I see, they want the government much lower.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:16 a.m.

Kim Wilson Campbell via Texas Tribune on Facebook

*groan* It just shows the nation how totally backwards our reps are!
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:18 a.m.

Alexandra Vlahodimitropoulos via Texas Tribune on Facebook

thank you for opening my eyes. i obviously cannot having sovereign control over my own body. i would be lost without these men guiding my every right.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:19 a.m.

Rick Chafey via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Reps are elected, and most of these probably by significant margins in their gerrymandered districts.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:22 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@Jalapeno - since when did murdering innocent unborn children become "practicing medicine"?
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:22 a.m.

Barbara Avila Marvin via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Had a sonogram done for my dog, turns out she swallowed June Bugs but, man, it was expensive! ....So, where will the money come from to provide these sonograms for women?
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:22 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

"I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone."

"I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion."
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:40 a.m.

Luisa Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I'd advise women to keep their ipads turned up loud, perhaps w/an Annie Lennox-Aretha Franklin duet about "Sisters"
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:47 a.m.

Kay VanHauen via Texas Tribune on Facebook

All the reps wives and girlfriends need to go on sexual strike. Maybe then this law would be reversed.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:50 a.m.

Teresa Saldivar via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Ironic the party of "less government intrusion" finds no problem with intruding into the lives of private citizens because it goes against the parties religious beliefs to have an abortion. Talk about out right hypocrates! Yeah and soon all the female supporter's will be directed to walk ten paces behind the men...Al Quida anyone?
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:52 a.m.

st info

Free sonograms! Just go in asking for an abortion, change your mind after the sono and repeat each time you want to see your little baby-to-be! Wish I was prego now, this is awesome -- thanks Dan!
May 4, 2011 @ 10:55 a.m.

Jill Scoggins via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Just remember, Texas: The government that today prevents you from having an abortion is the same government that can tomorror FORCE you to have an abortion. Once you give government the right to tell you what to do with your reproductive rights, you are bound to obey.
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May 4, 2011 @ 10:57 a.m.

st info

Women will come from all over the country and points south to have their 'abortions' in Texas. Unlimited free sonograms are great deal for people without insurance and when insurance limits the number allowed.
May 4, 2011 @ 11:01 a.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Did he happen to mention who'll pay for it??
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May 4, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I don't know if they would ever force you to have an abortion but I think they may try to force sterilization on some women. Bad day for Texas.
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May 4, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m.

Jo Beth Jimerson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I just think it's interesting that in the celebratory photo-op there is not a single woman.
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May 4, 2011 @ 12:02 p.m.

Kimberly Thompson Burkett via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sonograms arent free, so who pays for this? The mother - doubtful as many won't have the funds and/or insurance. The state - I thought they were $27B in the hole and defunding education and nursing homes. Or perhaps it's okay to spend tax money on this because they're pro-fetus (not to be mistaken for pro life) and it furthers their agenda at the expense of Texas school children and the elderly. I only wish I could begin to understand their twisted "logic."
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May 4, 2011 @ 12:50 p.m.

Jeanne Cecil

Who pays for this procedure to be done? Does the woman have to pay even if she can't afford to? Does the doctor or clinic?
Does this invasive procedure get paid for by the citizens of the great state of texas where the LEGISLATORS opt to not to worry about all the children and adults living here with intellectual and physical disabilities. Sure--get them born and THEN throw them away. What a horrible show of humanity.
May 4, 2011 @ 12:59 p.m.

C E

I can't help but notice the irony of the stories on this web page. On the top of this page the state is legislating ridiculous requirements about a legal and safe medical procedure; while in the middle of the page the state is experiencing one new teen pregnancy EVERY 10 minutes; and Texas has the highest rate of second pregnancies to teen mothers. I wonder how many teens got pregnant just in the time that legislators wasted arguing on this stupid bill? Who is paying for all these sonograms?

The second story also estimates that the state is paying 1 billion dollars to support in various ways, these teen pregnancies. Let's connect the big black dots and legislate more effectively, rationally, and fiscally responsibly ... allow women to make better choices for themselves from the beginning. Give teens the information they need about reproduction, birth control, and the consequences of teen pregnancy. Then maybe we could reduce the occurrence of teen pregnancy, avoid the need for these invasive sonograms, and save some big bucks in the meantime.
May 4, 2011 @ 1:39 p.m.

Holly Morgan

Those two good ole' boys certainly look like obstetrical experts. Viva the new era of limited-govt-except-when-it-pertains-to-your-uterus! I'm ready to move to Vermont.
May 4, 2011 @ 1:43 p.m.

Robert von Bruce via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Two overfed white men with too much power and not enough brains. It's a sad day for Texas. Keep your government out of our uteri!
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May 4, 2011 @ 2:41 p.m.

joel rubinstein

where are the women in this picture? all i see are a bunch of fat white guys and aaron pena. it would be funny if it weren't so shameful
May 4, 2011 @ 4:34 p.m.

Tim Ashlock via Texas Tribune on Facebook

up next: a bill requiring military personnel to listen to the heart beat of people they are about to bomb
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May 4, 2011 @ 4:49 p.m.

Elisabeth Netherton

Goodness! Thank you for doing such a "strong" job keeping thousands of women and children in poverty. I don't know what they would do without our wonderful elected leaders to "help them out!"
May 4, 2011 @ 7:49 p.m.

Linda Childs via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Maybe I shouldn't ask this because it might give them ideas, but if you don't have to view/listen to the sonogram, then what's the point of being made to have one? Not even going into the whole issue of it being MY body, NOT YOURS! (Does anyone else remember the "bad touch" talks?)
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May 5, 2011 @ 8:17 a.m.

Robert Dunbar

They will undoubtedly attend some religious event this week waving their bibles, korans or whatevers and give praise to almighty god, allah, jesus or The Grand Pubba (whatever they choose to call the ever silent mystic of the sky), conveniently forgetting or overlooking that miscarriages every year in Texas are far greater than induced abortions. So ironically these masters of faith and chosen of the Grand Pubba will worship, praise and otherwise honor the single most prolific abortionist in history. I suppose it is way too much to hope they will also pass a new law that requires a supporting senator or representative of this bill to watch with the woman the sonogram and listen to the fading heartbeat of a dying fetus being aborted by the Chief Abortionist of the universe.
May 6, 2011 @ 3:17 p.m.

Susan Aulds

I love the photo, all the good ole boys grinning, passing a law REQUIRING women to undergo an intimate procedure, which, if they object to the first trimester insertive procedure, constitutes RAPE in the state of Texas. Amazing..........