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Perry Pushing For 'Fetal Pain' Abortion Ban At 20 Weeks

Office of the Governor

Governor Rick Perry announced that he’s backing a tougher state law against abortion. Perry is pushing for a so-called “fetal pain” law to be passed in the upcoming legislative session. 

Joined by state Senator-elect Donna Campbell (R), Perry called for the new Texas law that would tighten the state’s restrictions on abortions by banning abortion after 20 weeks, which is when Perry said a fetus can feel pain.

Perry made the announcement with the backing of pro-life groups while at the Source Pregnancy Center in Houston.

Under Perry’s proposal, physicians who perform abortions would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital. The law would also require abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Similar laws have already been passed in ten other states.

Perry has been successful previously in pushing forward anti-abortion laws through the Texas legislature.

He has signed both parental notification and parental consent laws - along with a ban on state tax dollars supporting abortion facilities. He also supported and signed the Texas abortion sonogram law.

David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org and on Twitter at @DavidMartinDavi