The Brief: Top Texas News for May 3, 2011

by David Muto
May 3, 2011
20 Comments

The Big Conversation:

With one major tweak, abortion sonogram legislation inched closer to the governor's desk Monday.

The state Senate gave initial approval to a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to undergo a sonogram and have the details of the fetus described to them before the procedure.

It's not the first time this session that the Senate has taken up the sonogram bill. It passed its own version — which required women to wait two hours between the sonogram and the abortion — months ago. But a stalemate set in after the more conservative House passed a ...

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Comments (20)

May 3, 2011 @ 7:34 a.m.

Carolyn Moon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I still want to know who pays for these unnecessary procedures
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May 3, 2011 @ 7:47 a.m.

Donald Dickson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

During debate on the Railroad Commission Sunset Bill, I got to thinking that before the Legislature can abolish a state agency we ought to require them to view a sonogram....
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May 3, 2011 @ 7:55 a.m.

Storm Britten Ilouno via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Its a woman's decision......................why is it that Texas wants to control everything? Oh yeah, the reddest state. They think they are in soviet Russia!!!!!!!!
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May 3, 2011 @ 8:08 a.m.

Sheri Alexander via Texas Tribune on Facebook

this is a great example of Big Government, where politicians dont belong: the dr's office!!! how can republicans preach against unwanted pregnancy, yet defund sex ed? claim pro life but be pro death? cut taxes for yacht owners bc theyre giving their $ to Florida but same reason is wrong for gambling? give millionaires tax breaks but increase class size, cut teachers..etc etc. id go on but ive got finals at 3pm
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May 3, 2011 @ 8:13 a.m.

Susan Aulds

I don't understand how the Texas Legislature can pass a law that requires a procedure that under the existing laws of Texas is the very definition of RAPE in this state: inserting something into the sexual organ or other orifice of a person against his/her will. Gee, could this be a case of mass displaced fantasies? And this from a bunch of conservatives who are so fond of individual liberty and want the government out of their lives? The human mind is a strange thing to behold.
May 3, 2011 @ 8:14 a.m.

Anne Solomon via Texas Tribune on Facebook

The purpose is to torture and humiliate women. I still want to know what torture/humiliation will be wrought upon the men who engender the pregnancy. No equality here.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:25 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

TORTURE & HUMILIATE WOMEN???? It takes two to create and two who have the control to use condoms or whatever. What is wrong with you people? Abortion and partial birth abortion is MURDER of an innocent life. Geesh! Are we the fall of the Roman Empire all over again?
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:27 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Not to mention women who use ABORTION as their choice of birth control.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:28 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I, recently, learned that taxpayers' pay for Planned Parenthood. Yikes, I did not know I paid for murder!
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:31 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It's a woman's decision to murder? Why is it some murder (war, etc.) is fine and other is not? We send people in prison to be put to death for murder, but murdering an unborn life is okay? I do not get it.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:32 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Big government? It is the taxpayers that pay for Planned Parenthood I understand.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:34 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@ Sheri your profile picture says it all.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:36 a.m.

Sheri Alexander via Texas Tribune on Facebook

karen i am an atheist i am not against the abortion of a nonviable fetus like you and your religion/god does. therefore you shouldnt enforce our government to enforce me to abide by the laws/commandments of your religion. this should be the end all be all of the abortion discussion but i guess we have a ways to go. tax payer money is deterred from funding abortions as much as possible by the hyde amendment.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:38 a.m.

Kelly McDonald via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I have 4 women in my family who have struggled with unplanned pregnancy. 2 of them had their babies and gave them up for adoption. 1 had an abortion. 1 kept her child. The 2 who gave their babies up for adoption have had life altering mental distress from it, making it difficult for them to maintain healthy relationships and employment. The one who had the abortion finished college and is now happily married with two kids. The one that kept her daughter ended up on welfare and continues to struggle with transportation and keeping an affordable reliable babysitter, but has recently remarried a single dad with three sons, and is now going to nursing school. 'Just saying.
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:41 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@Sheri Who is talking about religion? It is up to you to feel that humans are the end all and there is no higher force. I think that humans are the only species that kill their own kind just because. So atheist are not against murder? Nonviable fetus? Have you ever witnessed a partial birth abortion?
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:45 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Simple and less costly solutions: Use birth control or stay out of bed if you do not want children!
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:45 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@Kelly What has any of that to do with the right to life?
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May 3, 2011 @ 9:50 a.m.

Karen Kennedy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

That is all I have to say ... say for the unborn. Everyone have a great day.
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May 3, 2011 @ 11:48 a.m.

ravenshroud

From a super liberal....

There is NOTHING wrong with this bill. Nothing.

It is the exact same argument we use for gun control. You can have guns but we will TRY to make sure you go through a rigorous process to ensure that you should indeed have a gun.

Abortion is legal. They cannot prevent them from being done (yet, but they will). In the meantime, they can rightfully require any means or process at the state level to attempt to get the mother to make a decision against the abortion. And no this doesn't mean they have to do it nicely, or friendly, or even constitutionally. They can do WHATEVER they want.

If you do not agree. WHO CARES?! There is nothing anyone will do about bills that further erode abortion rights except the US Supreme Court and NO ONE on the left wants ANY of these cases to get before that group of CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS.

Welcome to the new world of conservatism-at-will. At least, for the moment THIS is a FAIRLY acceptable change. It WILL get worse, I guarantee.
May 3, 2011 @ 12:28 p.m.

Jane Dicicco via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Hate to mention this... but birth control does fail at times. Even with the best intentions.
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