Federal judge rules controversial Texas abortion law unconstitutional

[oilyfan]

A victory for reason over rabid religiosity? I think so, a small victory.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013...itutional?lite

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel decided Monday that the regulations impeded on the rights of abortion physicians to do what they judge is best for their patients and would unreasonably limit a woman's access to state abortion clinics.

The law would have limited doctors from performing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy unless the health of the mother is threatened or the fetus cannot be saved. It would have also required physicians to perform abortions in an ambulatory surgical center — a measure for which only five out of the 42 existent abortion clinics in Texas qualify, according to the Associated Press.

[Hemi-Cuda]

For a group that claims to love the US constitution as much as they do, Republicans sure like to pass laws that violate the hell out of it

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

For a group that claims to love the US constitution as much as they do, Republicans sure like to pass laws that violate the hell out of it

Human political nature. The US constitution gets hauled out as a sacred document that transcends all arguement when it supports one's position, and then gets denegraded as a dated document that's out of tune with the current reality when it doesn't.

[Resolute 14]

A triumph for sanity. The passage of this bill did lead to an epic fillibuster and some ridiculous political maneuvering, so there was that.

[Cuz]

In a legal sense, IMO, the abortion debate is dead. Both the Supreme Courts in the US and Canada have determined that it is unconstitutional to deny a woman the right to an abortion. Furthermore, it would be political suicide, except maybe in the most conservative of areas, for a government to enact legislation limiting access to abortions. So outside of debates brought by the most extreme, I think there is little to worry about for those that believe in a woman's right to choose.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Cuz

In a legal sense, IMO, the abortion debate is dead. Both the Supreme Courts in the US and Canada have determined that it is unconstitutional to deny a woman the right to an abortion. Furthermore, it would be political suicide, except maybe in the most conservative of areas, for a government to enact legislation limiting access to abortions. So outside of debates brought by the most extreme, I think there is little to worry about for those that believe in a woman's right to choose.

Maybe you've never heard of Republicans?

[GGG]

I do respect Texas' attempt to put a term limit in abortions because somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks there is a hard ethical line that gets crossed where it has to be considered a baby. Premes can survive at 24 weeks.

That said legislating it out isn't the answer. Good education is.

[Flash Walken]

This year is the 30 year anniversary of Roe V. Wade.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Cuz

In a legal sense, IMO, the abortion debate is dead. Both the Supreme Courts in the US and Canada have determined that it is unconstitutional to deny a woman the right to an abortion. Furthermore, it would be political suicide, except maybe in the most conservative of areas, for a government to enact legislation limiting access to abortions. So outside of debates brought by the most extreme, I think there is little to worry about for those that believe in a woman's right to choose.

In a legal sense yes, maybe.

In the practical sense the US has made it very difficult for a vulnerable and marginalized woman to get an abortion. This is especially true in the Southern states, where in most states there is only one clinic in the entire state. Now a poor young woman from a minority is supposed to find money to travel across the state (by herself because she is stigmatized) and navigate the protesters (and in some states go through "counselling") before she can get access to a poorly equipped clinic.

Funding has been severely restricted and clinics significantly regulated. On top of which very few doctors are actually performing the procedures, mostly because it is hard to get insurance, and they don't want the daily struggle and death threats.

That doesn't sound like this is what the fight has been about, it is a long struggle.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

This year is the 30 year anniversary of Roe V. Wade.

40 (I wish 1973 was only 30 years ago)

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by getbak

40 (I wish 1973 was only 30 years ago)

adurr