By Jeremy Wallace, Houston Chronicle
July 2, 2018
Abortion opponents in Texas are convinced they are in a prime spot to lead a nationwide effort to chip away at the landmark Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the United States more than 40 years ago.
While other Republican-dominated states have passed laws that could become the first true test case on the topic for a newly configured Supreme Court, key voices in the fight against legal access to abortion in Texas say they have a case in appellate court that could be “the big one.â€
“This is the landmark decision in the making,†Texas state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said of a 2017 Texas law he was key in passing, which banned the most common procedure used for second trimester abortions. The law was challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood and was struck down by a federal court in November.
But even if the Perry law is not the one, Texas lawmakers say they are better positioned than ever going into the next legislative session to more aggressively push to further restrict the ability of women to get abortions. That is because with Texas House Speaker Joe Straus not seeking re-election, they foresee having a socially conservative leader who will be more willing to take up the fight with them. Straus is pro-life and has pointed to legislation like a bill to require women to view a sonogram of the fetus as evidence of his opposition to abortion. Still, Texas Right to Life has considered Straus and his leadership team opponents to their efforts.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Texas-hopes-to-test-new-Supreme-Court-with-13045109.php
