Texas Liberals pledge allegiance to Satan...

[kentonio]

?

That'll teach me not to post **** at 4am.

[MOBIUS]

A short while ago someone here challenged me to say something nice about Texas, seeing as I've turned over a new leaf as Nice MOBIUS...

Senator Wendy Davis for President!

Without Texas' unique and challenging environment to nurture her, I'm sure her trajectory would have been far less inspiring...

[DinoDoc]

Appeals court upholds challenged parts of Texas abortion law

(CNN) -- A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld parts of a Texas abortion law pertaining to hospital privileges for physicians who perform abortions and protocols for abortion-inducing drugs, a decision that drew starkly contrasting reactions on both sides of the debate.

A U.S. district court previously struck down those provisions in the Texas law, which were challenged in court by lawyers for Planned Parenthood. But the 5th Circuit Appeals Court later issued a stay of that decision "pending appeal," meaning it would not go into effect.

The U.S. Supreme Court also weighed in, with a majority refusing to stop the law's implementation. In the ruling opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that an appeals court stay could not be vacated "unless that court clearly and 'demonstrably' erred in its application of 'accepted standards.'"

Thursday's ruling means the provisions will remain valid in the state of Texas, until or unless the U.S. Supreme Court rules otherwise or legislators in the state act to modify the law.

Supporters of such legislation cheered the ruling. Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser applauded the judges "for upholding this commonsense measure to safeguard women."

"The people of Texas have spoken through their elected leaders and in support of protecting the culture of life in our state," said Gov. Rick Perry, a conservative Republican. "Today's court decision is good news for Texas women and the unborn, and we will continue to fight for the protection of life and women's health in Texas."

Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood had an opposite reaction, with President Cecile Richards characterizing the decision as "a terrible court ruling."

"The latest restrictions in Texas will force women to have abortions later in pregnancy, if they are able to get to a doctor at all," Richards said. "This court ruling is not the last word."

House Bill No. 2 first caught the country's attention thanks to state Sen. Wendy Davis, who is now a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and her pink tennis shoes. Davis filibustered the bill for 13 hours in June 2013, earning her street cred in progressive circles but failing to stop the bill's passage.

The fight then moved to the courts, with Planned Parenthood filing to halt the law just before it was to take effect.

Specifically, the group challenged a provision that required any doctor performing or inducing an abortion to have admitting privileges "at a hospital no more than 30 miles from the location where the abortion is provided."

Among other things, Planned Parenthood argued the requirement "lacked a rational basis." Furthermore, the group's lawyers surmised that it would cause women to lose access to abortions because clinics would shut down, in part because hospitals might refuse to give admitting privileges to those who performed abortions elsewhere.

The district court found the arguments valid, not buying the state's contention that the hospital privilege provision would help to better ensure patient's safety by certifying an abortion provider's competency and enhancing communication in an emergency in which hospital care is needed.

The appeals court reversed the lower court ruling. Not only are similar provisions in effect elsewhere, but the 5th Circuit appeals court also found that it has "a rational basis" and "the plaintiffs offered no evidence implying that the State enacted the admitting privileges provision in order to limit abortions."

Moreover, the court disputed the assertion that "abortion practitioners will likely be unable to comply," noting state and federal laws "prohibit hospitals from discriminating against physicians who perform abortions when they grant admitting privileges."

Thursday's ruling also overturned the district court decision on another matter: whether abortion-inducing drugs "must comply with the protocol authorized by the Food and Drug Administration." As is, some doctors follow an "off-label protocol" different from the FDA recommendations.

The district court found the relevant provision in the Texas law places "a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking" an abortion between 50 and 63 days after her last menstrual period.

The appeals court, again, disagreed: "H.B. 2 on its face does not impose an undue burden on the life and health of a woman, and the district court erred in finding to the contrary."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/justic...ion-law-court/
Satan failed to come through for them.

[pchang]

Yes. Religious conservatives made their deal first!

[Sava]

Satan failed to come through for them.

It's really creepy... your guys' obsession with controlling women.

[Ben Kenobi]

As opposed to killing girls?

[DinoDoc]

It's really creepy... your guys' obsession with controlling women.

Is there something horrible about banning abortions after the 5th month of pregnancy barring health reasons? Or in requiring such clinics to meet basic health and safety standards?

[Sava]

Is there something horrible about banning abortions after the 5th month of pregnancy barring health reasons? Or in requiring such clinics to meet basic health and safety standards?

Yes. Your personal obsession with women's bodies should not be made into law.

[DinoDoc]

Yes.

What?

[Sava]

What?

Yes.

[DinoDoc]

Yes.

What?

[DinoDoc]

I feel an infinite loop approaching.

[Ben Kenobi]

personal obsession with women's bodies should not be made into law.

So it's ok to kill women, in the process of trying to kill their girls? Sounds legit.

[DinoDoc]

On a side note, how does a video of a public event attract notices to Youtube regarding copyright infringement?

[Sava]

Yes.

What?

Yes.

What?

Yes.