poorrichardsnews:
An appeals court gave the go ahead for new abortion regulations in Texas to go into place.
A federal appeals court Thursday allowed Texas to immediately begin enforcing tough new abortion restrictions that will effectively close all but seven abortion facilities in America’s second most-populous state.
A panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans stayed a lower judge’s ruling while it considers the overall constitutionality of key portions of Texas’ sweeping 2013 abortion law, which Republican Gov. Rick Perry and other conservatives say is designed to protect women’s health.
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled in August that part of the law requiring Texas clinics to spend millions of dollars on hospital-level upgrades was less about safety than making access to abortion difficult.
Yeakel’s ruling in Austin suspended the upgrades requirement. But Texas is appealing, and asked the appeals court to let it enforce the law during that process — clearing the way for the panel’s ruling.
Allowing the state to go forward the rules on hospital-level upgrades — including mandatory operating rooms and air filtration systems — is likely to shutter more than a dozen clinics across Texas. It means only abortion facilities will remain open in the Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
The awakening is beginning…
5th Circuit Court lets Texas enforce abortion rules
5th Circuit Court lets Texas enforce abortion rules
