Gov. Rick Perry called for a second special session of the Texas Legislature in order to pass widespread abortion restrictions which will cost Texan taxpayers over $800,000.
The conservative Republican governor called for another special session on Wednesday after the first GOP attempt to pass one of the nation's strictest abortion bills died overnight due to state Sen. Wendy Davis' (D-Fort Worth) one-woman filibuster, reports CBS News.
Perry ordered lawmakers to meet again on July 1 to act on the abortion proposals, as well as separate bills that would boost highway funding and deal with a juvenile justice issue. In addition to banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, the proposal would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and limit abortions to surgical centers, notes theAssociated Press. In turn, opponents warn it would shut down 37 out of 42 abortion clinics in the state and leave many women without access. On the other hand, supporters say the bill would improve women's health care.
The debate over abortion restrictions led to the most chaotic day in the Texas Legislature in modern history, starting with an 11-hour filibuster and ending with a down-to-the wire, frenetic vote marked by questions about whether Republicans tried to break chamber rules to jam the measure through.
Each special session could cost taxpayers more than $800,000, reports ABC affiliate News Channel 25 KXXV-TV. Each lawmaker is given a $150 per diem to cover food and living expenses per day during a regular or special session. More money will be spent as the special session progresses.
If the second special session takes a full 30 days, Texans could be paying legislators nearly $1.6 million.
"Special sessions are costly to taxpayers, so were aren't going to be willy nilly," District 56 Representative Charles "Doc" Anderson told KXXV-TV. "But it is important that we address serious infrastructure issues that we have in Texas."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
