Texas Adopts Series of Measures Restricting Access to Abortion

277

July 15, 2013

Published in Le Devoir
(Canada) on 15 July 2013
by Associated Press (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Alisha Karmali. Edited by Lydia Dallett.

The Republicans in the Texas legislature adopted the most restrictive bill on abortion in the United States, but Democrats pledged last Saturday to fight the bill in court and in voting booths, while using their new law to rally their supporters.

More than 2,000 protesters invaded Austin, the capital of Texas, to manifest their opposition to the bill. Six people were dragged out of the Senate for trying to stop the proceedings. The Republican majority passed the bill without making any changes just before midnight hit on Friday, with all but one of the Democrats opposing it.

According to the new bill, the legislation will have to prohibit abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. The bill will require doctors performing abortions to hold admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, and force all abortions to take place in surgical centers.

The Democrats proposed 20 amendments to the law, including exceptions in cases of rape or incest, in addition to giving physicians more flexibility in prescribing abortion-inducing drugs. The Republicans rejected all of the amendments.

The Republican Party of Texas celebrated what they considered a major victory.

Austin — Les républicains de la législature du Texas ont adopté un projet de loi omnibus sur l’avortement qui est l’un des plus restrictifs des États-Unis, mais les démocrates se sont engagés samedi à le combattre devant les tribunaux et dans l’isoloir, alors qu’ils ont utilisé la nouvelle loi pour rallier leurs partisans.

Plus de 2000 protestataires ont envahi le Capitole, à Austin, pour manifester leur opposition au projet de loi, incluant six personnes qui ont été traînées à l’extérieur du Sénat pour avoir tenté d’interrompre les débats. La majorité républicaine a adopté le projet de loi sans y apporter de changements tout juste avant minuit, vendredi, tous les démocrates sauf un s’y opposant.

La législation doit interdire les avortements après la 20e semaine de grossesse, obligera les médecins effectuant des avortements à détenir des privilèges d’admission à un hôpital avoisinant, et forcera tous les avortements à avoir lieu dans des centres chirurgicaux.

Les démocrates ont proposé 20 amendements à la loi, y compris des exceptions dans des cas de viol ou d’inceste, en plus d’accorder aux médecins plus de latitude pour prescrire des médicaments provoquant des interruptions de grossesse. Les républicains les ont cependant tous rejetés.

Le Parti républicain du Texas a célébré ce qu’il considère comme une importante victoire.

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