Rick Perry Signs Controversial Abortion Bill Into Law

Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the ISO Poly Films factory on October 25, 2011. (Getty Images)

Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a bill into law today that limits the period in which a woman may have an abortion to 20 weeks after conception across the State. The bill also requires abortion clinics to be available for ambulatory surgical centers. This comes six months after declaring his goal to make abortion at any stage “a thing of the past.”

The controversial bill originally failed to pass in the State Senate after a 13-hour filibuster by Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis.

Perry quickly called a second special session to strong-arm the bill through the state legislature, regardless of objections from Davis and her Democrat colleagues.

Mr. Perry said that he was establishing “the foundation on which the culture of life in Texas is built upon.”

Democrats and proponents of Planned Parenthood argue that the bill could not only force the majority of the state’s 42 abortion clinics to close, but that it also takes away a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices.

Texas Republicans allege that the bill will improve patient safety and hold abortion clinics to safe standards.

Many medical groups argue that the bill intrudes on doctor-patient relationships and will not boost patient safety.