Though Texas Democrats successfully blocked an extreme anti-abortion bill from being approved on Tuesday night, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) plans to see the legislation at his desk.
State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) planned a 13-hour filibuster to prevent the bill from passing before the legislative session ended at midnight on Tuesday. Her filibuster was cut short, but Democrats in the Senate still managed to delay a vote and block the bill.
In response, Perry announced Wednesday he was calling a special session of the Texas legislature to begin on Monday, July 1. The governor said the legislature also failed to approve bills related to the funding of transportation infrastructure projects and life sentences for 17-year-olds.
“I am calling the Legislature back into session because too much important work remains undone for the people of Texas," Perry said in a statement. "Through their duly elected representatives, the citizens of our state have made crystal clear their priorities for our great state."
"Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn. Texans want a transportation system that keeps them moving. Texans want a court system that is fair and just. We will not allow the breakdown of decorum and decency to prevent us from doing what the people of this state hired us to do."
The anti-abortion bill would shutter all but five of the state’s abortion clinics and impose a 20-week abortion ban.
Perry has previously said his goal was to completely end abortion in the state of Texas.
