It was the first time in the state’s history, committee members said, that public testimony had been heard on a measure holding women criminally liable for their abortions. Enthusiasm for the antiabortion cause was evident as well in the surprise box office success of the film “Unplanned,” which paints a dark picture of Planned Parenthood and other groups that defend abortion rights. The emotional showdown in Texas came amid a broader effort, in states where Republicans enjoy legislative control, to impose sweeping new restrictions on abortion rights. That the Texas bill, which goes even further, is a clear violation of the 1973 landmark decision appears to be precisely the point for those who asked lawmakers to advance it out of committee. Leach, who represents a swath of Collin County in North Texas, said he was committed to giving each bill introduced by a member a hearing before the committee.

Source: Washington Post April 10, 2019 09:50 UTC