Abortion clinic bill stalled in Senate

Sen. Judith Zaffirini said Senate Bill 537 “does nothing to make abortions less necessary.” Sen. Judith Zaffirini said Senate Bill 537 “does nothing to make abortions less necessary.” Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Abortion clinic bill stalled in Senate 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Texas Republicans are one vote short of passing a controversial abortion bill in the Senate — and the fate of the legislation now rests squarely on the shoulders of two South Texas Democrats.

Sens. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, oppose the bill, and without their votes it won't have the supermajority needed under Senate rules to get to a floor vote.

Both senators occasionally have sided with Republicans to pass anti-abortion measures, voting as recently as 2011 for a contentious bill that requires women to have a sonogram before an abortion. But if they maintain their opposition to Senate Bill 537, which would increase regulations for abortion clinics, the bill is stuck.

The measure has been on the Senate's calendar for nearly two weeks but has yet to be considered. The Senate requires a two-thirds majority, or 21 votes, to consider legislation. SB 537 has 20 supporters — 19 Republicans and a lone Democrat, Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville.

Opponents argue the bill could shutter more than three-fourths of the clinics that perform the bulk of the state's abortions, requiring those licensed exclusively to perform the procedure to meet the physical and safety standards of ambulatory surgical centers, which provide a wide range of operations.

“Some of the Democrats are pro-life. I just need to talk to the whole (Democratic) caucus and explain what the bill does and doesn't do,” said Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, one of three physicians who co-authored the proposal. “It's been couched as an anti-abortion bill and I've got to overcome that.”

The legislation would require that the clinics have X-ray equipment, pre- and post-operation areas, specific sizes for rooms and additional infrastructure such as anesthesia pipelines.

Supporters, including co-author Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, say that would ensure legal abortions are safely performed.

Opponents say it's designed to close 37 of the state's 42 abortion clinics that don't currently meet the proposed standards. Abortion clinics provided 77 percent of abortions in Texas in 2011, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice, said the last death of a pregnant woman reported at an abortion facility in Texas was in 2001. More than 72,000 abortions were performed in the state in 2011.

Zaffirini said she is “strongly pro-life” but opposes this bill because it “does nothing to make abortions less necessary” and “has the potential to limit access to critical health care services for thousands of Texas women.”

“Instead of attempting to address problems that do not exist, the Texas Legislature should focus on making women's health care and prenatal care more accessible and affordable,” she said.

Uresti, who voted against the measure in committee, said it would reduce health care services, including abortion, for women in his district, specifically in rural areas.

“I don't want to create barriers for women to access health services,” said Uresti, noting that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes the bill.

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker