Abortion

February 11, 2014

A Long and Bitter Fight

How the debate over abortion has come to define our politics like no other issue.

By Brian D. Sweany

The Daily Post|

January 14, 2014

Everything About the Arian Foster Lawsuit Is Pretty Terrible

Brittany Norwood, a twenty-year-old undergrad at the University of Houston who claims she is pregnant with the Texans' running back's baby, is taking him to court in pursuit of a restraining order and accusing him of pressuring her to have an abortion.

November 21, 2013

The Closest Clinic To Most Texans That Offers Abortions After 20 Weeks Is Staying Open

Pro-choice activists haven't had much to celebrate during a particularly rough past several months, as legislatures in Texas and around the country have voted to restrict abortion access. But last night in Albuquerque, they scored a win.

The Daily Post|

November 19, 2013

Comedians Raise $50,000 in Online Pro-Choice Telethon For Texas Women

Sarah Silverman, Lizz Winstead, and several female comedians joined forces to raise money for women affected by Texas's recently instituted abortion restrictions.

By Joseph Misulonas

The Daily Post|

November 1, 2013

The Latest On HB2

Last night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit granted an emergency motion to stay the injunction against HB2. Here's what that means in non-legalese.

October 29, 2013

Here’s What’s Going On With The Abortion Law Ruling Right Now

HB2, the law that placed severe restrictions on abortion access in Texas, went to court this month—and one important provision was found unconstitutional yesterday. While national outlets reported that the whole bill had been overturned, this isn't true, and the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed an emergency

September 27, 2013

Planned Parenthood Files Lawsuit Over HB 2

It was inevitable, and now it's official: The abortion law that passed during the special session is officially the subject of a lawsuit.

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

February 12, 2013

Pregnant Teen Sues Parents for Pushing Abortion

The Texas Center for Defense of Life, a nonprofit association of pro-life attorneys, filed the suit on her behalf Feb. 10.

By Ross Dubois

January 21, 2013

The Ascendant Abortion-Alternative Industry

Crisis pregnancy centers served 17,527 clients last year, and that number will likely only grow.

January 21, 2013

“Fetal Pain”: The First Thing on Rick Perry’s Desk?

The Governor will hold a press conference with Texas Right to Life in Houston today to personally offer his support for more restrictions on abortion in the state.

By Jason Cohen

January 21, 2013

Sixty Women’s Health Clinics Shuttered After Cuts

The state legislature slashed women's health funding by two thirds last session in an attempt to target Planned Parenthood. Now, a total of sixty clinics have closed, and only twelve of them were run by that organization.

January 21, 2013

The Women’s Health Discussion Continues

TEXAS MONTHLY invited state senator Dan Patrick and state representative Donna Howard to tweet chat with executive editor Mimi Swartz about our August cover story on women's health.

By Jason Cohen

January 21, 2013

Another Tumultuous Week for Planned Parenthood

Texas can now exclude Planned Parenthood from its Women's Health Program, after an appeals court judge reversed a lower court's injunction.

January 21, 2013

Scott Braddock On His Controversial Firing From News 92

After a week of speculation, controversy and support, the Houston radio reporter and talk show host tells the story of his firing from his own perspective

By Scott Braddock

January 21, 2013

Hutchison Criticizes Perry over Women’s Health Program Decision

Texas's senior Senator pushed for Rick Perry and the Obama Administration to work out their differences to ensure the Women’s Health Program can serve low-income women.

January 21, 2013

Who Firebombed Wendy Davis’s Office?

Update: Fort Worth police have arrested a 40 year-old homeless man for arson in Tuesday's firebombing of the Democratic state senator's Fort Worth office.

By Jason Cohen

January 21, 2013

The Morning After Women’s Health Reform

A new state rule that bars Planned Parenthood clinics from being part of the Texas Women's Health Program took effect yesterday. So what does that mean for the program's future?

By Alison Finney

Health|

January 21, 2013

‘Doonesbury’ Tackles the Texas Sonogram Law

Doonesbury takes on the controversial sonogram law this week, devoting six pen-and-ink comic strips to the legislation, but several newspapers around the country are boycotting the strip.

January 21, 2013

Komen Foundation Catches Flack for Cutting Funding to Planned Parenthood

The Dallas-based foundation faced swift criticism after news broke that it had cut off donations to Planned Parenthood.

Photograph of a sonogram required for abortion.

January 21, 2013

Women Now Required to Have a Sonogram Before an Abortion

A three-judge panel reversed a lower court's injunction against the controversial "sonogram law," which mandates that women who have abortions must submit to a sonogram and hear a description of the fetus as litigation proceeds.

January 20, 2013

The Convert

After a sudden pang of conscience, former Bryan Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson became a pro-life activist and a star on the conservative talk show circuit. But is she telling the truth?

By Nate Blakeslee

supporters at a Planned Parenthood Rally in front of City Hall, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Dallas.

July 31, 2012

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives

In 2011 the Legislature slashed family planning funds, passed a new sonogram law, and waged an all-out war on Planned Parenthood that has dramatically shifted the state’s public health priorities. In the eighteen months since then, the conflict has continued to simmer in the courts, on the campaign trail, and

By Mimi Swartz

February 3, 2012

Komen Foundation Reverses Course on Planned Parenthood Decision

But is it enough to calm the waters?

November 29, 2011

Rick Perry Wages a “Spiritual” War on Abortion

A 5,000-word piece in Religious Dispatches details the “spiritual” war on abortion in Texas under Rick Perry’s watch.

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

By R.G. Ratcliffe

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

By R.G. Ratcliffe

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

January 27, 2009

(Ultra) sounding off about State of the State

Deep into the State of the State address, Gov. Rick Perry endorsed a proposal by Sen. Dan Patrick and Rep. Frank Corte to, in Perry’s words, “require those wanting to terminate a pregnancy to review their ultrasound before proceeding.” Perry told the assembled lawmakers today that “as we consider the

By Patricia Kilday Hart

December 1, 2004

My Choice

How can I be a Christian and support legalized abortion? Tough question, but after weeks of soul- searching, I have an answer.

By Gary Cartwright