Women's Health: Not So Popular in Regular Session
When House Bill 2 was signed, Governor Perry said it was an "important day" for "those who support the health of Texas women." Women's health was such an important focus of the Governor and the 83rd Legislature that they called two special sessions to ensure the passage of this important women's health legislation.
In the debate over restrictions to abortion access in the first and second special sessions, women's health has been at the center of the arguments put forth by both the opposition and those supporting the legislation. Opponents pointed out the possibly devastating results of clinic closures and reduced access to reproductive health care, while supporters maintained that these higher standards would ensure that women received the best care possible.
Interestingly, of the more than twenty women's health bills filed during the regular 83rd legislative session, two made it to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Legislators from both sides of the aisle filed bills meant to improve women's health by addressing issues such as the right to breast feed and the ability of teen mothers to consent to vaccination. The vast majority of these women's health centered bills never made it out of committee.
Multiple bills were filed to address the new challenges faced by the Women's Health Program, after Planned Parenthood was removed from the list of providers and Texas rejected federal funding for the program last year. Some attempted to increase funding, others to study the delivery of services under the current program.
More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13857/womens-health-not-so-popular-in-regular-session .
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