Abortion

July 14, 2015

“I’d Say a Lot of People Want Liver”

Yikes, Planned Parenthood.

June 13, 2015

Sympathy for the Serious Social Cons

They’re in a thankless position in the Lege these days.

May 25, 2015

Legislating into Memorial Day

Lawmakers had a busy day Sunday fighting over veteran benefits, abortion and making the airways safe for Amazon drones.

May 14, 2015

How Teen Pregnancy May Have Saved Gay Marriage—UPDATED

The debate on new restrictions on judicial bypass for teens to receive an abortion may have played a key role in killing a bill to block same-sex marriages.

March 18, 2015

First Voter Identification; Now Abortion Identification

A new House bill with substantial backing would require women to produce government-issued identification before receiving an abortion to prove they are not a minor.

February 25, 2015

A Yardstick For the Culture Wars in Texas

A newly released survey finds Texans sharply divided on issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, but overwhelmingly in favor of a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who live here illegally.

October 15, 2014

Voter ID Un-Struck, Abortion Clinics Re-Opened, and Annise Parker Picks a Fight

Also, Ebola

September 2, 2014

Weekend Wobbles

Two court rulings and a debate over a debate add up to a couple of headaches for Abbott.

August 26, 2014

What Social Conservatives (and Liberals) Can Learn from Kyleen Wright

When it comes to policy making, reasons matter.

February 12, 2014

Splitting Hairs on Abortion Restrictions

What Wendy Davis really thinks about abortion.

July 13, 2013

The Abortion Bill: Winners and Losers

Now that HB 2, the omnibus abortion bill, is on its way to the governor’s desk, who are the winners and losers in the battle over abortion? Winner: Wendy Davis, who became a national figure by virtue of her filibuster and has the chance to reenergize the Democratic party in

By Paul Burka and Brian D. Sweany

June 24, 2013

The Abortion Debate in the House

The abortion debate in the House yesterday strengthened my longstanding conviction that this issue has done more harm to American politics than any other. It's where our politics began to jump the rails because it is a fight that cannot be resolved.

By Paul Burka and Brian D. Sweany

May 24, 2011

R.G.’s Take: The Nanny State of Texas

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a faraway land called Pennsylvania, a woman named Sarah Palin brought 200 protest cookies to school for children at the Plumstead Christian School - because she had read a report – mistaken as it turns out – that the state was

March 30, 2011

Pre-filed amendments to budget bills set the stage for culture wars on spending

The next several days of Texas House budget debate may be as much about the culture wars as state spending. Pre-filed amendments to the three budget-related bills before the House contain limitations on private school vouchers, funding for Planned Parenthood and directives to higher education to fund centers for traditional

March 12, 2009

Read bill, smack forehead

HB3152, by Christian. Relating to prohibiting the performance of an abortion on a woman who is not known to be pregnant; providing penalties. Filed two days ago, Christian’s bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor for a doctor to use drugs or medical instruments commonly used to perform abortions

By Patricia Kilday Hart

February 23, 2009

R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Get Real

Just got a notice from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s office that tomorrow, on Pro-Life Lobby Day, Dewhurst “will speak in support of legislation which would require all women considering abortion be offered an ultrasound image of their unborn child and the opportunity to hear its heartbeat prior to receiving an

By Patricia Kilday Hart

January 28, 2009

Perry’s Proposals

My general reaction to the governor’s speech is that it was not his best work. His delivery was off and his message was predictable. Indeed, if you’ll pardon me for saying so, I predicted most of it. In my post before the speech, I wrote that he would back off

By Paul Burka