Texas is closer than ever to joining 10 other states that bar private insurance plans and those offered through the Affordable Care Act from covering abortions, except through supplemental plans.

The Texas House -- over strong objections from Democrats -- gave preliminary approval to House Bill 214, which prohibits health plans from providing coverage for abortion except in the cases where the life of the mother is in danger. The House voted 95-51 to send the bill to a third and final reading.

"This isn't about who can get an abortion," state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, said of his bill. "It is about who is forced to pay for an abortion."

But Democrats vehemently objected, saying Smithee's plan essentially targets women by forcing them to pay for extra insurance that men would be able to avoid buying.

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"This bill takes us backwards," said Rep. Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio. "This bill is about denying Texas women their right to a safe abortion."

Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, was even more blunt, saying HB 214 was essentially forcing women to buy "rape insurance" because Smithee's bill did not provide even an exception for rape or incest victims.

Turner tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to allow insurance to still cover abortions for women and girls who are raped or victims of incest.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 25 states ban abortion coverage under health plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act exchanges, but at least 13 of those have exceptions for rape and incest victims. Of the 10 states that ban private insurance coverage of abortions, 2 have exceptions for rape and incest.

An identical bill has already passed the Texas Senate, making it one of the few issues that House and Senate leaders are close to passing identical bills during the 30-day special session Gov. Greg Abbott called earlier this summer.