Thread by @TumaTime

Okay, here we go. I'll live-Tweet 🧵: The Texas House is now taking up #SB8, a six week #abortion ban that amounts to a near-total ban. It would grant breathtaking authority to *anyone* interested in suing a provider or a group/person that "aids and abets" abortion care. #txlege

You can watch live here: tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph…

House companion bill #HB1515 author @ShelbySlawson is laying it out now. #SB8 #txlege

Now, debate starts. @DonnaHowardTX first up. She asked @ShelbySlawson if you can get pregnant on your period. Slawson replied that a "physician is better suited to answer the question." (Omg you cannot make this stuff up...) #txlege

.@DonnaHowardTX is asking about time frames in the bill, @ShelbySlawson has difficulty answering basic Qs about gestation and pregnancy. Howard makes point "heartbeat at 6wks gestation" in bill is really = 4 weeks of pregnancy. #txlege #SB8

.@DonnaHowardTX is a former nurse BTW, she knows the medical stuff as well as the policy stuff. She points out medical orgs like @acog opposes using "heartbeat" at that early in pregnancy #txlege #SB8

Fetus has electrical activity, no heart chambers-- "heartbeat" is not accurate medical science, says Howard based on @acog
.@ShelbySlawson: "I don't agree with that...based on personal experience." (????)
.@DonnaHowardTX: "Well, that's what the science says."
#txlege #SB8

.@DonnaHowardTX is heated:
"This is the worst day of the session every session. You guys know there have always been abortions and always will be despite the obstructions and self righteousness of valuing life over what I value..." #txlege #SB8

.@DonnaHowardTX: "There will always be women seeking abortion despite these obstructions...and you guys don't have to have them, we do...I feel very disrespected as [a woman, mother, grandmother]" #SB8 #txlege

Now up Democrat @NicoleCollier95 who points out #SB8 allows *anyone* to sue an abortion provider or anyone that *intends* to violate the law. What does "intend" mean? Give me an example at least...
.@ShelbySlawson: "I don't have an example." (Doesn't answer.) #txlege

.@NicoleCollier95 also points out that person that sues abortion provider/supporter:
-can collect $10K..."It's a lottery, basically."
-no venue restrictions, so someone in different city can sue
#txlege #SB8

Democrat @ChrisGTurner points out the "heartbeat" measures are part of a national coordinated strategy of copy cat bills by @Faith2Action, an extremist anti-choice group. I wrote a little bit about that here: austinchronicle.com/news/2021-04-0… #txlege #SB8

.@ChrisGTurner asks if access to contraception is related to the rate of unintended pregnancies.
.@ShelbySlawson declines to answer the basic health care question
#txlege #SB8

.@ChrisGTurner, through a series of basic reproductive health care questions about contraception and maternal mortality, is showcasing #SB8's @ShelbySlawson's lack of interest and baseline knowledge about women's health #txlege

.@ShelbySlawson reads out first amendment which would bar a rapist from suing his victim's abortion provider under #SB8. @SherylCole1 points out that someone else can still bring that suit (me, thinking: like the rapist's best friend?) #txlege

House passes amendment to #SB8 that prevents a rapist or someone who commits incest to sue his victim's abortion provider (or anyone that supports the abortion). #txlege

Rep. Dutton offers amend. that is withdrawn that would have given women who decide against abortion medical care for their children until 18 then college tuition #txlege #SB8

Dem @NicoleCollier95 now on podium talking about her experience considering abortion as a teenager, which she decided against. She is grateful that she had the "choice."
"We are setting people up to fail by not giving them the choice," she says of #SB8 #txlege

.@RepToniRoseTX "It seems like we only care about life when it's in the womb."

.@NicoleCollier95 says don't pander to base and waste time on banning abortion: focus on power grid, access to health care, education etc. #SB8 #txlege

.@RepToniRoseTX "Wouldn't it be great if we were instead talking about how COVID-19 is impacting communities [instead of #SB8]?" #txlege

.@DonnaHowardTX (who says she noticed when female colleagues were speaking, men on floor were not paying attention) recalls the pre-Roe world and says this #txlege should not be dictating what women do with their bodies #SB8

.@DonnaHowardTX points out the American Medical Association and more than 200 docs opposes the private cause of action part of #SB8, as it jeopardizes "their licenses, their livelihood" #txlege

.@DonnaHowardTX on life after #SB8's abortion ban:
"We do not want to go back and hide in the shadows and risk health and our very lives with unsafe [abortion] procedures." #txlege

.@Ramos4Texas asks why does the bill not prosecute abortion patients? Why not sue the women?
.@ShelbySlawson: Evades answer, says Act meant to protect "unborn life"
.@Ramos4Texas "Could it be b/c it's the wrong thing to do?"
#txlege #SB8

The Texas House passes #SB8 by 81-63. It bans #abortion at six weeks and amounts to a near-total abortion ban. The extremist bill would allow anyone (other than a rapist) to sue an abortion provider or anyone that "aids and abets" the procedure. #txlege

To me, #SB8 is the most extreme anti-choice measure that’s gotten this far in the legislative process that I’ve seen covering abortion rights in Texas. And that was one of the shortest floor debates on an abortion bill that I’ve ever seen. Where were the D amendments? #txlege

#SB8 still needs a third and final vote from the House (likely tomorrow). Then the Senate will agree to changes and then send to Gov. Abbott's desk to become law... #txlege