Headline: Texas Gov. Abbott Still Refuses To Add Rape And Incest Exemptions To Abortion Law[Forbes, 9/26/21]
2021: Abbott Signed A Bill Which Banned All Abortions After Six Weeks And Empowered Private Citizens To Sue Abortion Providers. According to The Texas Tribune, “Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Wednesday a measure that would prohibit in Texas abortions as early as six weeks — before some women know they are pregnant — and open the door for almost any private citizen to sue abortion providers and others […] Instead of having the government enforce the law, the bill turns the reins over to private citizens — who are newly empowered to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps someone get an abortion after a fetal ‘heartbeat’ has been detected. The person would not have to be connected to someone who had an abortion or to a provider to sue.” [Texas Tribune, 5/19/21]
Greg Abbott Called On SCOTUS To Release The Final Decisions: “Show That The U.S. Supreme Court Will Not Be Intimidated By This Attempt To Hijack The Decision.” [Spectrum News Austin 5/5/22]
Greg Abbott On His Past Election Being A Referendum On Abortion: “Wendy Davis Was Hailed As The Abortion Savior, But She Lost To Me…the Same Fate Will Meet With Beto.” And that's exactly what that draft of that opinion said. We think that is the likely outcome here. And the fact of the matter is, listen, Texas is a pro-life state. I know your show is on in other states. But for those unfamiliar with Texas, my first election for governor was a referendum on the issue of abortion. Many people outside Texas will remember Wendy Davis, who filibustered an abortion bill in Texas to try to prevent restrictions on abortion. She was hailed as the abortion savior, but she lost to me by twenty percentage points. The same fate will meet with Beto on the campaign trail. He’s even worse on the abortion issue than Wendy Davis was. And so, I think this is going to be a monumental decision that will come out, if it does come out, that will be transformative for this issue. But, you know, the key issue, though, is whether or not the opinion actually will come out. We have to wait and see.[Greg Abbott on the Joe Pags ShowSan Antonio, Texas 05/03/22]
Greg Abbott Pushed Supreme Court To Get Decision Out Quickly: “The Supreme Court To Show That They Are Not Going To Be Pressured Or Bullied By This, I Strongly Urge The Supreme Court To Get That Decision Out This Week.” With regard to the abortion issue. Listen, a couple things about it. First, let’s be clear about something. And that is what what what has happened so far is what I consider to be a hijacking of a United States Supreme Court decision where someone within that court is trying to trying to interfere with the court process and impose undue pressure on the court to arrive at a result that appears to be different than what was in that opinion that was leaked that apparently came from Justice Alito. I'm not sure that's criminal. It's wrong. No doubt about. And it is unprecedented. No doubt about it. And the court's right to get to the bottom of it. Second thing along those lines, for the Supreme Court to show that they are not going to be pressured or bullied by this, I strongly urge the Supreme Court to get that decision out this week. Don't wait around and don't allow the bullying to occur on the streets and whether it be in front of the Supreme Court or around the United States, get the decision out. Now, the public has seen it, get it out. If they don't have the votes for it, get it, get something out. But from a broader perspective, listen, if the decision that comes out is the Alito decision, that dovetails with where the state of Texas has been ever since I've been governor, and that is we are pro-life state and we will continue to be a pro-life state governor. [Greg Abbott Press Conference/Roundtable, Economic Development, Texas 05/06/22]
Abbott Signed Law Narrowing Window For Medication Abortion From 10 Weeks To Just Seven Weeks Post-Conception. According to the Texas Tribune, “Just weeks after a near-total ban on abortion went into effect in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott ceremonially signed a separate bill into law on Friday that will restrict Texans’ access to abortion-inducing medication. The new law — which would narrow the window in which physicians are allowed to give abortion-inducing medication to patients from 10 weeks to seven weeks into a pregnancy — represents a doubling down by state elected officials on abortion policies that are now among the strictest in the country.” [Texas Tribune, 9/24/21]
The Law Also Included Provisions Banning The Mailing Of Abortion Pills. According to the Texas Tribune, “The new law will also prohibit mailing abortion-inducing drugs. In April, the Biden administration temporarily allowed the medication to be mailed when in-person visits were not always possible due to the pandemic.” [Texas Tribune, 9/24/21]