AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he will introduce emergency legislation requiring women seeking abortions to first get a sonogram of the fetus.

Perry, speaking Saturday at an anti-abortion rally in Austin, said the measure would also include the requirement that women listen to the sound of the heartbeat, the Austin American-Statesman reported.


"When someone has all the information, the right choice will be made -- the choice for life," Perry said to the crowd of between 4,000 and 5,000 at the steps to the Capitol.

"Since (the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision), 50 million children have lost their chances. That is a catastrophic number, twice the population of this entire state," Perry said.

Perry also designated for quick approval in the state legislative session that started Jan. 11, a crackdown on "sanctuary cities" for illegal immigrants, stronger property-owner rights, tighter voter identification requirements at the polls and a resolution directed to the U.S. Congress to pass a balanced-budget amendment, the American-Statesman reported.

Democrats, however, said in focusing on these issues, Perry is trying to shift attention from news that the state is $27 billion short of the money needed for government services over the next two years.