Rice political scientist available to comment on filibuster on abortion bill today

EXPERT ALERT

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Rice political scientist available to comment on filibuster on abortion bill today

HOUSTON — (June 25, 2013) — Texas State Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) will attempt a filibuster today on controversial omnibus abortion legislation (SB-5) and run out the clock on the state’s first special session, which ends at midnight.

Mark Jones, chair of political science at Rice University and a fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is available to comment on the legislation and filibuster.

A filibuster of approximately 13 hours would prevent the bill’s passage. Among other things, SB-5 would prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks, require abortion clinics to meet the standards of ambulatory surgery centers and mandate that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. It would also place greater restrictions on the use of the abortion drug RU-486.

“If Davis’ filibuster is successful, it is very likely that Governor Rick Perry will call a second special session,” Jones said. “In a second special session we should expect the legislation to pass, given the large majorities supporting it, and the greater amount of time will limit the prospect of procedural errors and strategic delays by Democrats and House Republicans preventing the legislation from arriving at Governor Perry’s desk in July.

“Thus, pro-choice forces may win today’s battle, but are likely to lose the war over SB-5.”

Rice University has a VideoLink ReadyCam TV interview studio capable of transmitting broadcast-quality standard-definition and high-definition video directly to all news media organizations around the world 24/7.

To schedule an interview with Jones, contact David Ruth at david@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.

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Related materials:

Jones’ biography: http://www.bakerinstitute.org/personnel/fellows-scholars/mjones.

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