A reported crowd of 5,000 people rallied outside Texas’ capitol in Austin, as the second round of debate over Senate Bill 5 — the proposed legislation that would ban abortions after the 20th week and close the vast majority of women’s health clinics performing abortions throughout the state — before a 30-day special session called by Governor Rick Perry began in the state Senate.
State Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth), whose filibuster helped prevent the passage of the legislation, thanked the crowd for the support she’s received in the past few days.
“It was your voices lent to me that made it possible for me to stand for those 13 hours,” she said.
The chances of blocking the legislation this time are not good for Texas Democrats, who used procedure and a raucous crowd to keep Republicans from passing Senate Bill 5 without any public hearing. Republicans will likely be able to call a final vote with enough time remaining in the session that it could not be filibustered.
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst (R-TX) called the Senate into recess until July 9, after waiving requirement that two-thirds of senators approve a bill before it gets a floor vote. A committee meeting on the legislation will convene Tuesday.
Dewhurst has admitted that the goal of the legislation is to close clinics that offer abortions.
Here’s Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks playing “Not Ready To Make Nice” at the same rally:
