AG Candidate Dan Branch Joined House Democrats Seeking to Expand 3rd Trimester Abortions

the following article is by Bob Price posted at Texas GOP Vote:

In the wake of yesterday's court ruling blocking Texas from implementing portions of its newly passed pro-life law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their abortion facility, it becomes even more clear why we must have a Texas Attorney General who is as solidly pro-life as our current AG, Greg Abbott. After a little research into the records of the candidates to succeed Abbott, it is apparent one candidate does not fill those shoes - Dan Branch.

During the 79th Legislature (2005) SB 419 was introduced to continue functions of some medical boards in Texas. During the debate on this bill in the House, Representative Dan Branch authored an amendment to allow and expand 3rd trimester abortions.

Texas law restricts these late term abortions to cases where the baby has irreversible brain damage. Branch's amendment sought to expand this to irreversible damage to a "vital organ". After Branch argued in support of his amendment, the House voted to table it. Branch joined with House Democrats to vote "Nay" on the motion to table.

Democrats will continue to use the courts to overturn advances made to protect life by Republicans in the Texas Legislature. We must have an Attorney General whose commitment to pro-life issues is unquestionable. After yesterday's court ruling, General Abbott filed an emergency appeal to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Branch's record raises concern about whether he would have filed a similar appeal.

General Abbott's spokeswoman, Lauren Bean, issued a statement yesterday on behalf of the Attorney General. “The court upheld part of the law and enjoined part of the law. The State has already appealed the court’s ruling. We appreciate the trial court’s attention in this matter. As everyone – including the trial court judge – has acknowledged, this is a matter that will ultimately be resolved by the appellate courts or the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman, a candidate for Texas Attorney General, reaffirmed his committment to pro-life issues in a statement yesterday.“I am disappointed by Judge Yeakel’s ruling," Smitherman stated, "but I applaud General Abbott’s decision to seek an emergency appeal. As Attorney General, I will vigorously defend Pro-Life laws in the state of Texas. Judge Yeakel’s inappropriate refusal to acknowledge that the statute was rationally related to preserving the life of unborn children and protecting women’s health will hopefully be corrected upon appellate review.”

Perhaps this attempt by Branch to expand abortion rights in Texas was behind Texas Right to Life's omission of Dan Branch in their recent endorsements of Barry Smitherman and Ken Paxton. His being left off that list was a clear statement by this leading pro-life group.

If you are a pro-life voter in the 2014 Republican Primary, I think it is safe to say you can take Dan Branch off your list for consideration. Texas needs a solidly pro-life Attorney General and Dan Branch doesn't cut it.

- See more at: http://www.texasgopvote.com/regions/texas/ag-candidate-dan-branch-joined-house-democrats-seeking-expand-3rd-trimester-006014#sthash.9vrxHPvc.dpuf

TX LT GOV David Dewhurst: Stopping Texas Gosnell - Baby Murderer

the following is an email I got from Texas LT Governor David Dewhurst:

David,

After murderer Kermit Gosnell was brought to justice, there are gruesome allegations that Houston abortionist Douglas Karpen murdered babies and operated a “house of horrors” clinic.

We can do more to stop these incidents from ever happening with your help.

First, find your State Senators here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

Then, call your State Senator and tell them to support SB 25, SB 537 and SB 1198.

SB 25 would outlaw abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. SB 537 would force Texas abortionists to abide by the same regulations as those governing ambulatory, or outpatient surgical centers.  SB 1198 would require Texas abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility.

Why are these so urgent? Here’s why:

BREITBART: "A new video exposé released Tuesday of the Aaron Women’s Clinic in Houston, one of three clinics owned by abortionist Douglas Karpen, depicts gruesome details of the practices of an abortionist who is currently facing a criminal investigation for allegedly allowing late-term babies to be born alive then twisting their heads off with his bare hands." (Dr. Susan Berry, "Texas Lt. Gov. Demands Investigation of Abortionist After Video Exposé," Breitbart, 5/15/13)

"Texas Lt. Gov. Demands Investigation of Abortionist After Video Exposé." "The lieutenant governor of Texas, David Dewhurst, demanded an investigation Wednesday of an abortionist whose employees claim he twisted the heads off of babies who were born alive during abortion procedures. (Dr. Susan Berry, "Texas Lt. Gov. Demands Investigation of Abortionist After Video Exposé," Breitbart, 5/15/13)

For too long, abortionists have run roughshod over the law. It’s time to hold them accountable for their actions. Call your State Senator today and tell them to pass SB 25, SB 537 and SB 1198 out of the Senate today!

For life,



David Dewhurst

Texas Speaker Joe Straus Says Abortion is NOT a Serious Issue

Why would anyone who is against the killing of innocent unborn babies ever consider voting for Joe Straus? Joe Straus is not pro life. He voted against pro life issues before he became Speaker and enjoyed support from Planned Parenthood. Now that he is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, he does not vote on bills. He certainly has not publicly stood up for pro life issues as Speaker and in the past as Speaker he has called it only a "wedge issue." The pro life legislation that passed in the 2011 Texas Legislative Session passed, not because of him, but in spite of him. Straus did not stand against it because he knew the pro life bills would pass anyways with a super-majority of Republicans in the Texas Legislature. He also did not stand for them though and given different circumstances, like less Republicans in the House, I believe Straus would stop playing to the super-majority and play both sides because he will need the Democrats in a split house.

Anyways, if it was not already clear that Abortion is not an important issue for Speaker Joe Straus then you should take a look at his most recent quote about abortion:

In an article from the Houston Chronicle,  Joe Straus brushed off the biggest pro-life bill of 2013 as maybe one of the thousands of bills to get filed. Straus then went on to completely label the pro life measure as not important by saying that he is only focused on "getting serious about serious issues" like infrastructure.

The genocide of millions of innocent unborn babies is not a serious issue Joe Straus?

Texas Speaker Joe Straus Says Abortion is NOT a Serious Issue, according to a Houston Chronicle Article dated 12/12/2012

from the Houston Chronicle:

Some GOP members plan to push for more stringent legislation involving abortion, including a ban on abortions for a fetus past 20 weeks.

Straus noted that thousands of bills get filed during every regular legislative session.

“It sounds like that may be one of them,” he said of the abortion measure. “The top of the agenda for me continues to be education resources and infrastructure – the things that will help Texas cope with the tremendous growth that we have seen in this state.”

Texas, he said, needs to “get serious about serious issues.”

Governor Perry Supports Texas Preborn Pain Bill to Ban Abortions after 20 Weeks

Governor Perry has come out in support of a bill that was filed for the 2013 Texas Legislative Session called the Preborn Pain Bill. The Preborn Pain Bill, if passed, would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks because that is when it has been proven that unborn babies can feel pain. You cannot hurt animals without going to prison because the non-human animals can feel pain, so why in the world would we allow unborn HUMANS have to suffer the pain of being tortured and torn apart?

the following is from Texas Right to Life:

At a press conference hosted by Texas Right to Life on Tuesday, Governor Rick Perry urged Texas legislators to support Texas Right to Life's flagship bill for the 2013 Texas legislative session, the Preborn Pain Bill. The Preborn Pain Bill will protect babies in the womb who can feel pain from the torture of abortion by prohibiting abortions from being committed at 20 weeks gestation and later.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Governor Perry:  The ideal world is a world without abortion. Until then, we're going to pass laws to ensure that abortion is as rare as possible under existing law...

This session, I'm calling on the legislature to strengthen our ban on that procedure, prohibiting abortion at the point a baby can feel the pain of being killed. We have an obligation to end that type of cruelty. 

And I'll be clear: my goal, and the goal of many of those joining me here today, is to make abortion, at any stage, a thing of the past. 

While Roe v. Wade prevents us from taking that step, it does allow us -- the states -- to do some things to protect Life if we can show there is a compelling state interest. Now, I don't think that there is any issue that better fits the definition of "compelling state interest" than preventing the suffering of our state's unborn. We cannot, and will not, idly stand by while our unborn are being put through the agony of having their lives ended.

Elizabeth Graham:  Texas Right to Life is so honored that Governor Perry would highlight Texas Right to Life's flagship bill for the 2013 legislative session...

We're very excited that pre-born children who can feel pain will be spared from this barbaric and gruesome procedure next session in 2013. Please show your support to your elected officials to pass this bill, and join us next spring when Governor Perry signs the bill after it passes.

TX Rep. James White: Disproportionate # of Black Babies Killed by Abortion - Black Pastors MUST Take Stand



David Bellow, James White, Rick Perry

 My Super Conservative Texas State Representative James White spoke with Texas Right to Life last month. In this interview, he pleaded with black pastors to take a stand against the genocide (abortion) that is killing a disproportionate number of black babies compared to other races.

the following is from Texas Right to Life:

In Texas, African Americans make up 13 percent of the population, yet account for 25 percent of all abortions in the state. 

On the flip side, the community holds conservative views on abortion, attends church more than the average American, and readily mixes religion and politics, according to Pew Research Center.  Flip the coin again, and you’ll find that black voters overwhelmingly vote for political candidates who are pro-abortion.

 

State Representative James White, a Pro-Life, black conservative in the Texas House of Representatives, spoke to Texas Right to Life about these contradictions within the African American community.

 

“When you look at the disproportionate number of black babies...killed by abortion,” lamented Representative White, “obviously, it’s a failure in public policy, but it’s a failure within our communities, within our churches, among our black men.”

 

Representative White specifically challenged black pastors for not doing enough to stop the genocide in their communities.  “The civil rights movement started out of the church...so any kind of social, political, economic change within the black community will probably initiate from the church,” he said.

 

Representative White foresees change, but slowly, as the black community becomes more aware that the socially liberal policies of leaders like President Obama have not -- and will not ever -- benefit African Americans. 

 

“I think that all of us as Americans are proud that we have elected the first black president. But at some point you have to be truthful...about his impact on blacks.”

 

“African American voters, at a rate of 95 percent [in 2008]...participated in electing the first black president, but economically, socially, nothing has really changed for the betterment of black voters,” White emphasized. 

 

Representative White anticipates that once African Americans decide that “they can no longer be soiled by the pro-death, anti-God, anti-religion philosophy of the most outspoken Democrats and liberals,” the community will embrace Pro-Life political leaders.

Texas Sonogram Abortion Bill is Ruled Constitutional - 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds the Law & Removes Injunction

Major Victory for the State of Texas and for life!

Texas passed a law in the 2011 Legislative session that requires a sonogram to be performed for women who are contemplating killing their unborn baby. This would allow the woman to be fully informed about what she is doing and who is inside of her.

This law was challenged in court U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks put a hold on key provisions of Texas’ new sonogram law.

This ruling was appealed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The 5^th Circuit today struck down the injunction against the Sonogram Bill and ruled that the bill is constitutional.

Jeff Mateer, the General Counsel for the Liberty Institute, posted this comment on his Facebook page:

Breaking News -- Victory at 5th Circuit: The Court (Edith Jones opinion) holds recently enacted Texas Sonogram law constitutional. The Fifth Circuit reversed Judge Sparks, vacating his granting of preliminary injunction, which had stopped enforcement of the Texas Sonogram law.

Below is a Previous Story from earlier this week from the Liberty Institute blog:

Sonogram Bill Goes Before 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Today 

Today, the Sonogram Bill (HB 15) will go before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The State of Texas will be seeking to overturn U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruling that put on hold key provisions of Texas’ new sonogram law. The Sonogram Bill, which requires doctors or certified sonographers to perform a sonogram on women seeking an abortion at least 24 hours before the procedure, was overwhelmingly passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Perry this past legislative session.

Liberty Institute, on behalf of Texas State Senator Dan Patrick and Representative Sid Miller – authors of the Sonogram Bill in the Texas Senate and House respectively, filed an amicus brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the law. Liberty Institute argues that HB 15 is consistent with Supreme Court precedents and only requires the disclosure of truthful and accurate information to allow women to make informed decisions regarding their pregnancies. Liberty Institute was also involved in helping lawmakers draft the best language for this legislation and provided legal advocacy at numerous legislative hearings on this matter when pro-abortion advocates tried to stop this effort.

Read the legislators’ amicus brief filed with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas Medical Professionals Performing Abortion Services v. Lakey.