Tag Archives: abortion

Election results elsewhere

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Results of interest from elsewhere in Texas and the country… – Three of the ten Constitutional amendments were defeated, with Prop 4 losing by nearly 20 points. It drew strong opposition from anti-toll road activists, and I daresay that was … Continue reading →

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Sonogram law still blocked

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Texas sonogram law, that was ruled unconstitutional before it could go into effect, will stay in legal limbo for the time being. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ordered the main provisions of the law were improper because they … Continue reading →

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Injunction granted against sonogram law

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Very good news. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks issued a preliminary injunction after finding that portions of the sonogram law, set to take effect Sept. 1, were unconstitutionally vague and violated the First Amendment by improperly requiring doctors and patients … Continue reading →

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Opening arguments in the sonogram lawsuit

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

No clear indications about how the judge might rule, but there are a few straws in the wind. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, however, indicated some discomfort with portions of the bill that critics consider vague, particularly as physicians could … Continue reading →

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Preliminary injunction motion filed against sonogram law

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how it fares. Pro-choice activists filed a motion Thursday to halt the state’s new law requiring women seeking abortion to view a sonogram of the fetus. The NY-based Center for Reproductive Rights filed the preliminary injunction request in … Continue reading →

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Fiscal and health care bills pass

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one less reason for a special session. One key budget-related bill, Senate Bill 2, won final approval from both chambers this afternoon and is headed to the governor’s desk. SB 2 is an appropriations bill that goes hand-in-hand with … Continue reading →

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The perils of being a single-issue voter

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A new voice is heard against the “sanctuary cities” bill. Several Hispanic, conservative evangelical pastors from around the state spoke out in opposition of the bill. One of them, Gilberto Avila, a pastor from Tyler, testified against the measure on … Continue reading →

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All abortion, all the time

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In-fight all you want, Republicans. The clock is ticking. Abortion-rights opponents in the House have threatened to scuttle a comprehensive health care savings bill if negotiators don’t add prohibitions against abortions at public hospitals in cases of severe fetal abnormality. … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed against sonogram bill

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a national abortion-rights advocacy group, has filed suit over Texas’ newly-signed abortion sonogram law, alleging it violates the First Amendment rights of the doctor and the patient. […] The suit, Texas Medical Providers Performing … Continue reading →

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House approves Medicaid changes

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to know what the effect of this will be. Texas lawmakers passed major changes to Medicaid on Wednesday that would privatize the health program in South Texas and allow the formation of health care cooperatives. The 142-page measure is … Continue reading →

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Feds may prevent some cuts to Planned Parenthood

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good news, at least potentially. Stephanie Goodman of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission confirms that the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services sent a bulletin advising state officials that federal rules do not permit states to ban … Continue reading →

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It’s different when it’s his junk that’s getting touched

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, the irony. The senator was in high dudgeon. “This was a come and take it moment for the state of Texas!” Dan Patrick proclaimed, trying to rally his fellow senators to stand up against the Feds, those high-handed intruders … Continue reading →

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It’s always been about controlling women

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, there’s nothing new about this. Senate Finance Committee Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said Monday afternoon that budget negotiators will likely adopt a 2012-13 family planning budget that is “pretty close” to the House’s proposal — $37 million for low-income … Continue reading →

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How little do the Republicans care about women’s health?

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They don’t care at all. An innovative women’s health initiative is heading toward oblivion over a legislative impasse between abortion rights opponents and supporters even though the program has nothing to do with abortions. Unless renewed by law, the 5-year-old … Continue reading →

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Planned Parenthood roundup

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, it’s been a truly crappy year for women’s health, family planning, and Planned Parenthood. All over the country there has been a relentless assault on reproductive freedom, which has spilled over into health care and access to … Continue reading →

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Modified sonogram bill passes the Senate

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I was hoping that the differences between the House and Senate sonogram bills would ultimately sink them, but alas it is not to be. Senate lawmakers have tentatively passed a controversial measure to require women seeking abortions to receive sonograms … Continue reading →

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Fight over family planning funds coming

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a small piece of the difference between the House and Senate budgets, but it will surely be a big part of the fight over how the two are reconciled. The Senate budget approved by the Finance Committee would spend … Continue reading →

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What Planned Parenthood actually does

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Since the only thing apparently holding up a deal to prevent a government shutdown is the GOP’s mulish insistence on de-funding Planned Parenthood, perhaps it’s time we all understood what Planned Parenthood actually does. Ezra Klein gives the explanation, with … Continue reading →

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Senate pushes back on House efforts to redirect family planning funds

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A little sanity is always nice to see. State budget cuts taking aim at Planned Parenthood may limit the availability of family planning services for many poor Texans and have the unintended consequence of increasing unwanted pregnancies, two key lawmakers … Continue reading →

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Budget debate resumes tomorrow

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Postcards: The Texas House [has called] it a night. They finished up the section of the budget bill that deals with public and higher education around 12:40 a.m. then adjourned until Sunday. Some members were planning to attend a Saturday … Continue reading →

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A little budgeters remorse?

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just a little. Not much. As a vote looms on a bare-bones budget that would slash education and threaten nursing homes with closure, House GOP leaders softened their rhetoric on Tuesday to emphasize that it is a starting point and … Continue reading →

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House passes sonogram bill

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Passing the bill was a formality at this point, but getting one chamber’s bill through the other may be problematic. The House’s measure will now be sent to a Senate committee. The Senate’s version that was sent to the House … Continue reading →

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Sonogram bill passes the House

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It was inevitable. Flexing their super-majority muscle in the Texas House, Republican lawmakers swatted away a swarm of amendments offered by the Democratic minority on Thursday and gave preliminary approval to a House version of a bill requiring doctors to … Continue reading →

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Sonogram bill delayed in the House

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Delayed for a day, at least. House lawmakers today launched into debate over their version of an abortion sonogram bill — one that is more stringent than the measure that passed the Senate last month. But after hours of delays … Continue reading →

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Sonogram bill coming up for a vote

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Dan Patrick’s “I know what’s best for you ladies” sonogram bill SB16 is on the schedule for today. I had previously expressed pessimism that there was anything to be done to prevent its passage based on the expected support … Continue reading →

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Sonogram bill passes out of committee

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. One of Gov. Rick Perry’s designated “emergency” pieces of legislation cleared an early hurdle on Wednesday when the Senate State Affairs Committee voted in favor of a bill that would require a physician to perform a sonogram on … Continue reading →

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It’s going to be a misogynistic year

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It already has been, unfortunately. Here’s Gail Collins on the recent efforts by some right wing activists who are targeting Planned Parenthood: The people trying to put Planned Parenthood out of business do not seem concerned about what would happen … Continue reading →

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If not Planned Parenthood, then who?

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is another can of worms being opened. State Sen. Bob Deuell wants Planned Parenthood’s clinics out of the state’s Women’s Health Program, which provides family planning services — but not abortions — to impoverished Medicaid patients. … Continue reading →

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The new Planned Parenthood

Posted on January 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One of the reasons cited for that silly “boycott Houston” campaign is the new Planned Parenthood building on the Gulf Freeway. Having been a clinic escort at the Fannin location many years ago, back when the entrance was right off … Continue reading →

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Texas Monthly on Abby Johnson

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall the story of Abby Johnson, the former employee at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan that quit her job and joined up with a local anti-choice group. She’s been on TV quite a bit telling a story … Continue reading →

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One Voice for Choice

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t usually get involved in the national stuff, but I’m totally on board with this idea and hope you will take action as you can. Ever since Stupak hijacked the health care bill, we’ve been watching.  So far, nothing … Continue reading →

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And so the chubbing comes to an end

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So, as far as I know at this point, SB362 is dead, other bills may or may not be dead, and some semblance of normality will return to the House for the remaining days of the session. After seeing so … Continue reading →

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RIP, statewide smoking ban

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I thought it still had a chance after it finally passed out of committee in the Senate, but the statewide smoking ban is officially dead. [State Sen. Rodney] Ellis held a press conference to announce the death of the statewide … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Whatever Ricky wants

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s too early to say how much of Rick Perry’s self-proclaimed agenda will get enacted this session, as much of it hinges on the budget reconciliation process as well as on legislation that hasn’t been taken up by one chamber … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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