Austin, TX, July 10, 2013
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| Gov. Rick Perry has promised to ensure that the bill passes and is signed into law. |
The bill stalled during a first special session as a mob of pro-abortion activists shouted down a vote, and an 11-hour filibuster by Wendy Davis prevented lawmakers from voting on the measure.
Yesterday, Democrats attempted to hinder the passage of the law by proposing more than two dozen amendments to water down or sidetrack the bill during 10 hours of debate. However, all amendments were voted down.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass.
Governor Rick Perry, who has stoked speculation that he will run for president in 2016 by announcing he will not seek re-election in 2014, called a special legislative session specifically for the purpose of passing the pro-life bill. He has promised to sign the bill into law.
The law captured the attention of both the pro-life and pro-abortion lobbies, as protesters regularly clashed outside the state capitol building. Michelle Duggar of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting called for an end to the “Baby Holocaust.” Rick Santorum visited the city.
During one particularly tense showdown, right to life advocates sang “Amazing Grace” as pro-abortion demonstrators shouted them down with chants of “Hail Satan!” The slogan became so popular that #HailSatan trended on Twitter.
