Photos: Texas Senate Debates Abortion
July 12, 2013
Abortion rights supporters rally on the floor of the State Capitol rotunda in Austin, Texas on Friday, July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate convened Friday afternoon to debate and ultimately vote on some of the nation's toughest abortion restrictions, its actions being watched by fervent demonstrators on either side of the issue. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( APTOPIX Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion rights advocates fill the rotunda of the State Capitol as the Senate nears the vote on Friday night, July 12, 2013. Texas senators were wrapping up debate on sweeping abortion restrictions Friday night and were poised to vote on a measure after weeks of protests. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Opponents and supporters of abortion rights rally in the State Capitol rotunda in Austin, Texas on Friday, July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate convened Friday afternoon to debate and ultimately vote on some of the nation's toughest abortion restrictions, its actions being watched by fervent demonstrators on either side of the issue. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Dave Cortez, right, and other abortion rights advocates scream outside the Senate Chamber during the debate of abortion restriction bill, Friday July 12, 2013, in the Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans on Friday defended a sweeping abortion proposal against Democratic attempts to show the tough restrictions were not only unnecessary, but also unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) ( Abortion Restrictions-Texas )
A supporter an abortion bill reads the Bible while in line outside the Texas Senate chambers as he final vote by the Senate is expected to begin, Friday, July 12, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
People on both sides of the abortion debate demonstrate during the debate of the abortion restriction bill, Friday July 12, 2013 at the Capitol in Austin, Texas (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion rights supporter Sarah Pope, left, and abortion opponent Katherine Aguillar, second from left, demonstrate at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, while the Texas Senate debates the abortion restriction bill, House Bill 2, on Friday July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate convened Friday afternoon to debate and ultimately vote on some of the nation's toughest abortion restrictions, its actions being watched by fervent demonstrators on either side of the issue. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) ( Texas Abortion Restrictions )
Hallie Boas and Lisa Fithian lead abortion rights chants from the third floor of the Texas Capitol Rotunda in Austin, Texas on Friday, July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate's leader, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, has scheduled a vote for Friday on the same restrictions on when, where and how women may obtain abortions in Texas that failed to become law after a Democratic filibuster and raucous protesters were able to run out the clock on an earlier special session. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion rights supporters rally on the floor of the State Capitol rotunda in Austin, Texas on Friday, July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate convened Friday afternoon to debate and ultimately vote on some of the nation's toughest abortion restrictions, its actions being watched by fervent demonstrators on either side of the issue. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion opponent Katherine Aguillar, middle, struggles to keep her sign raised during the debate of the abortion restriction bill, Friday July 12, 2013 at the Capitol in Austin, Texas (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
An anti-abortion protester holds a placard as protesters line the railing on the second floor of the rotunda of the State Capitol as the state Senate meets to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. Texas on Friday is poised to enact a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, ending a bitter political fight that stirred national debate over what critics see as laws threatening the right to abortion in the United States. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
People on both sides of the abortion debate gather during the Senate's debate on Friday July 12, 2013, in the Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans on Friday defended a sweeping abortion proposal against Democratic attempts to show the tough restrictions were not only unnecessary, but also unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) ( Abortion Restrictions-Texas )
Abortion rights (in orange) and anti-abortion advocates (in blue) rally in the rotunda of the State Capitol, as the state Senate meets to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. The Republican proposal that would ban most abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy moved toward a possible final vote in the state Senate Friday, and Democrats fiercely opposed to the measure conceded they will not be able to stop it. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
Over a dozen state troopers monitor the Senate Gallery of the State Capitol which is filled to capacity with supporters and opponents of abortion rights in Austin, Texas on Friday, July 12, 2013. The Texas Senate's leader, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, has scheduled a vote for Friday on the same restrictions on when, where and how women may obtain abortions in Texas that failed to become law after a Democratic filibuster and raucous protesters were able to run out the clock on an earlier special session. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Supporters and opponents of an abortion bill, mostly dressed in blue or orange to show their side, sit in the gallery of the Texas Senate chambers as lawmakers debate before the final vote, Friday, July 12, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Texas State Democratic Senator Judith Zaffirini holds a graphic image of a foetus at 20 weeks, as the state Senate meets to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. The Republican proposal that would ban most abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy moved toward a possible final vote in the state Senate Friday, and Democrats fiercely opposed to the measure conceded they will not be able to stop it. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
Texas State Democratic Senator Wendy Davis questions the state's Republican Senator Glenn Hegar, sponsor of HB1, as the state Senate meets to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. A Republican proposal that would ban most abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy moved toward a possible final vote in the state Senate Friday, and Democrats fiercely opposed to the measure conceded they will not be able to stop it. Davis drew national attention last month by staging a filibuster on the final day of a special session. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
Texas Senators vote on an amendment to an abortions bill, Friday, July 12, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion rights activists disrupt the special session of the Senate to consider legislation restricting abortion rights as they chain themselves to the railing in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. The Republican proposal that would ban most abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy moved toward a possible final vote in the state Senate Friday, and Democrats fiercely opposed to the measure conceded they will not be able to stop it. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
An abortion rights activist is handcuffed after being removed from the Senate gallery after disrupting the Senate's special session to consider legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas July 12, 2013. The Republican proposal that would ban most abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy moved toward a possible final vote in the state Senate Friday, and Democrats fiercely opposed to the measure conceded they will not be able to stop it. Davis drew national attention last month by staging a filibuster on the final day of a special session. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
Texas state troopers stand over pro-abortion rights protesters after they were taken from the Texas Senate gallery as the Senate debates an abortion bill, Friday, July 12, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
Abortion rights protesters rally inside the State Capitol after the state Senate passed legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas, July 13, 2013. The Republican-controlled Texas Senate passed a bill to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, ending a political battle that stirred national debate over what critics see as laws threatening the right to abortion in the United States. REUTERS/Mike Stone ( USA-ABORTION/TEXAS )
Texas State Troopers block the entrance to the State Capitol rotunda after abortion rights advocates filled it to capacity in Austin, Texas on Friday night, July 12, 2013. Republicans in the Texas Legislature passed an omnibus abortion bill that is one of the most restrictive in the nation, but Democrats vowed Saturday to fight in the courts and at the ballot box as they used the measure to rally their supporters. More than 2,000 demonstrators filled the Capitol building in Austin to voice their opposition to the bill, including six protesters who were dragged out of the Senate chamber by state troopers for trying to disrupt the debate. The Republican majority passed the bill unchanged just before midnight, with all but one Democrat voting against it. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
State Senators, from third from left, Sylvia R. Garcia, D-Houston, Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, Royce West, D-Dallas, Kirk Watson, D-Austin and John Whitmire, D-Houston, greet abortion rights advocates to show they voted against HB2, which the Senate approved late Friday night, July 12, 2013. Republicans in the Texas Legislature passed an omnibus abortion bill that is one of the most restrictive in the nation, but Democrats vowed Saturday to fight both in the courts and the ballot box as they used the measure to rally their supporters. (AP Photo/Tamir Kalifa) ( Abortion Restrictions Texas )
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