[Shaun]

Youtube video

Anyone following this story? It's within the law for a senator to speak, so long as it's on point and without interruption or sitting down, for as long as they want in the senate. She opposed a bill that was going to outlaw abortion clinics in Texas. She thus spoke solidly for almost 11 hours with stories sent in from supporters and pro-abortion citizens, and in the end witnesses in an audience above the hall chanted so loudly and defiantly that the bill vote couldn't be carried out.

Incredible stuff.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...ne-wendy-davis

A controversial abortion bill was blocked after a day of high political drama in Texas that began with a marathon filibuster speech and ended with a raucous public protest fanned by a nationwide social media attention.

Republicans in the state legislature conceded defeat in the early hours of the morning when it became clear that a vote on the bill, which would have severely restricted abortion in Texas, was not completed before a midnight deadline.

There were extraordinary scenes in the senate chamber in Austin, Texas, as Democrats mounted a concerted campaign to stop the bill from becoming law. A Democrat senator, Wendy Davis, spoke for 10 hours and 45 minutes. Procedural motions brought by Republican opponents forced her to stop speaking, other Democratic colleagues attempted to run down the clock.

News of the remarkable filibuster spread across social media, and President Barack Obama tweeted his support. Hundreds of people flocked to the public galleries, and the hallways outside the senate chamber filled up with hundreds more.

As it appeared that a vote on the bill was close, the public gallery erupted in jeers and cheers, disrupting proceedings.

David Dewhurst, the Texas lieutenant governor, told reporters that a 19-10 vote in favour of the bill came within time, but "with all the ruckus and noise going on, I couldn't sign the bill". He blamed the delay on "an unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics", according to the Austin American-Statesman, and denied mishandling the debate.

"I didn't lose control [of the chamber]. We had an unruly mob," Dewhurst said. He then hinted that Governor Rick Perry might immediately call another special session, adding: "It's over. It's been fun. But see you soon."
Wendy Davis during her Texas Senate filibuster Wendy Davis during her marathon filibuster

As the deadline approached, opponents of the bill in the crowded public gallery erupted into cheers and catcalls, delaying the final vote, which took place on the stroke of midnight.

Initially, Republicans insisted they had started voting before midnight, but official computer records and printouts showed the vote took place on Wednesday, but had been changed to read Tuesday.

Senators then convened for a private meeting, after which Dewhurst acknowledged that the vote had been derailed.

Emerging from the talks, Davis praised the "determination and spirit of Texas women", adding: "My back hurts. I don't have a lot of words left."

Democrat senator Leticia Van de Putte praised the crowd of supporters: "You really were the citizen filibuster," she said. "I've never seen anything like it and I'll never see it again – I hope we never have to see it again.

"The Republicans in the Senate and the House and the governor tried to silence women in Texas. They did everything they could. Your power is greater. This bill would have passed if you guys had not come here these last five days."

To be successful in her filibuster. Davis had intended to speak for 13 straight hours, without taking a bathroom break, sitting or even leaning against her desk, until midnight when the bill would expire. She refused to yield for questions.

As the speech progressed, interest intensified around the US. Barack Obama tweeted his support, and a live stream of the proceedings on YouTube attracted more than 150,000 viewers.

The aim of the filibuster was to prevent the bill, by Republican senator Glen Hegar, reaching Perry. The bill would have banned abortions in the state after the 20-week gestation mark, limit abortion-inducing drugs and require terminations to be performed in ambulatory surgical centres.

Advocates say these and other restrictions in the bill would have also triggered the closure of 37 of the state's 42 abortion clinics.

Davis, a rising Democratic star, opened her speech by saying she wanted to humbly give voice to thousands of Texans, and called Republican efforts to pass the bill a "raw abuse of power".

Wearing pink trainers, Davis rocked from hip to hip and slowly paced while she read testimony from doctors and women who would be affected by the bill if it were passed. "What purpose does this bill serve? And could it be, might it just be a desire to limit women's access to safe, healthy, legal, constitutionally protected abortions in the state of Texas?" she said.

Her marathon speech, which began at 11.18am local time, came to an end at 10.03pm when the last of three points of order were sustained against her.

A rush of procedural motions and inquiries by Democrat senators delayed the final vote on the bill. Van de Putte asked for a summary of previous points of order, saying she had been away from the senate attending her father's funeral.

The leader of the Democrats in the senate, Kirk Watson, began what amounted to his own filibuster.

With less than 15 minutes to go until midnight Van de Putte asked what a female member of the senate had to do to be heard over her male colleagues. She believed she had raised a motion earlier but had not been heard.

It was at this point the crowded public gallery began chanting and cheering. A vote was called on the SB5 bill but the noise was at such a level that voting was suspended until order was restored.

The gallery appeared to take this as an invitation to ramp up their noise for the remaining 15 minutes, with encouragement from Democrats on the floor. The session ended in chaos and confusion, and without the vote being completed by midnight.

There were reports that some senators did not even know what they had voted on. For more than 30 minutes senators milled around the floor and protesters shouted from the gallery, before troopers moved in, arresting at least one protester.

[Z]

That's seriously impressive.

[Nedusa]

That's no way to conduct serious political business . This type of ridiculous charade needs to end and normal time limits put on all speeches.

Honestly.... This kind of thing makes a mockery of serious political debate...!!!

[Shaun]

if it results in no abolition of basic women's rights, who cares

[Nedusa]

I support the reason why she has had to do this but I think this type of Filibuster(ing) is outdated and the system needs reforming to stop this practice.

[Tom4784]

The most fierce of bitches.

[the truth]

shes a disgrace...reducing the lives and deaths of millions of babies to pantomime

[Jenn-CityIVLyfe]

I was so proud of her for doing this. She's a hero in my eyes. This and the Supreme Court decisions on DOMA and Prop 8 were such highs for us before our newest scandal

[GiRTh]

It looks like it was all in vain. Rick Perry has organised a revised session to push thru the bill. This time it looks like any filibuster wont stop it. One way or another they're gonna reduce the number of abortion clinics in Texas to two. Wow. In a state that's 5 times the size of the UK there are only two abortion clinics. Gotta ask why such an issue is so important over say job creation or healthcare?

Originally Posted by GiRTh

It looks like it was all in vain. Rick Perry has organised a revised session to push thru the bill. This time it looks like any filibuster wont stop it. One way or another they're gonna reduce the number of abortion clinics in Texas to two. Wow. In a state that's 5 times the size of the UK there are only two abortion clinics. Gotta ask why such an issue is so important over say job creation or healthcare?

Because the right in America has nothing to say about job creation. Any policies that relate to job creation would align pretty closely to Democratic policies supported by the president. No republican can be seen in this light, when there are the potential for primary challenges next year.

They've wrapped themselves in false patriotism and culture wars all over again.
Considering so many on the right in America despise government, they sure as hell love taking tax payer money.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

The most fierce of bitches.

Yes Ideal For UK Celeb Big Brother on Ch5HD

[Nedusa]

Surely until the unborn child is capable of sustaining life on its own the mother can abort the pregnancy as she is deciding to allow the foetus to use her body to survive. The mother has the right to control her own body over and above any perceived rights of an unborn child.

So if the actual circumstances of a particular birth ie Rape victim or serious physical/mental disbility make a woman decide to terminate the pregnancy then SO BE IT it's her right no one else's.

So why are there not more abortion Clinics in Texas ???

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Surely until the unborn child is capable of sustaining life on its own the mother can abort the pregnancy as she is deciding to allow the foetus to use her body to survive. The mother has the right to control her own body over and above any perceived rights of an unborn child.

So if the actual circumstances of a particular birth ie Rape victim or serious physical/mental disbility make a woman decide to terminate the pregnancy then SO BE IT it's her right no one else's.

So why are there not more abortion Clinics in Texas ???

Cuz the state is run by bible thumping morons who impose their religious beliefs on everyone.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Jesus.

Because the right in America has nothing to say about job creation. Any policies that relate to job creation would align pretty closely to Democratic policies supported by the president. No republican can be seen in this light, when there are the potential for primary challenges next year.

They've wrapped themselves in false patriotism and culture wars all over again.
Considering so many on the right in America despise government, they sure as hell love taking tax payer money.

Agreed