Texans for Life Coalition
Note: the hospital admitting privileges requirement was TLCs top legislative priority in 2013 after a pro-choice Dallasite begged for help after a bad abortion experience.
March 2 1836 the provisional government of the Republic of Texas met at Washington- on the-Brazos to declare our independence and powers of sovereignty. March 2 2016 180 years later pro-life Texans descended upon Washington D.C. to defend our sovereign right to regulate abortion clinics.
In a challenge known as
Whole Womens vs. Hellerstedt abortion advocates challenged the regulations hospital admitting privileges and Ambulatory Surgical Center requirements saying the one-two punch is extremely burdensome and would be responsible for the closure of nearly 30 clinics. Chief Justice Roberts however questioned the evidence referencing a news story that noted one or more clinics closed as a result of Planned Parenthoods loss of state funding.
Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller argued forcefully for the safety regulations and was praised by attorneys from Americans United for Life and Alliance Defending Freedom who also described Stephanie Toti counsel for Whole Womens as unprepared. The Courts 4 liberals clearly want to redefine undue burden to weaken states rights to limit abortion even rolling back limits already in place. All eyes remain on Justice Kennedy however who did not tip his hand.
Justice Kennedy questioned the need for gathering more evidence as to the effect of the legislation suggesting the case could be remanded to a lower court but there was no remand order issued today. Most legal experts now expect we will learn the fate of HB 2 in early June.
On Friday the Supreme Court stayed an emergency appeal (preventing the law from going into effect) from abortion advocates in Louisiana regarding similar regulations pending its ruling on the Texas case. Several other states passed similar legislation and are facing legal challenges too
