Abbott, 9 other governors file brief supporting Texas' anti-abortion law

Photo: Tim Fischer, Photographer Gov. Greg Abbott says he will ask the Legislature to revisit ethics...

AUSTIN -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and nine other governors filed an amicus brief Wednesday urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the state's contested anti-abortion law.

In the brief, Abbott said many abortion providers practice outside of mainstream medicine, and the full implementation of the law known as House Bill 2 would provide a better standard of health care for women seeking abortions.

"By ensuring that doctors are affiliated with a local hospital and by raising the standard of care at clinics, laws like HB2 medicalize that practice of abortion and bring abortion clinics closer to mainstream medical practice," the brief reads.

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Eight of the nine governors joining Abbott were Republicans. The other, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, is a Democrat.

Also on Wednesday, 34 U.S. senators and 140 U.S. representatives filed their own brief supporting House Bill 2. They were led by GOP U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and U.S. Reps. Pete Olson and Lamar Smith of Texas and Vicky Hartzler of Missouri.

Fourteen states and the federal government have already filed briefs against the law.

The law, passed in 2013, limited the use of a pill in abortion procedures, banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, required hospital admitting privileges for abortion physicians, and mandated abortion facilities comply with standards of hospital surgical centers.

The Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments on the case on March 2, will look at the constitutionality of the last two requirements. A decision is expected by June.