Texas abortion bill defeated after missing deadline

A controversial abortion Bill, which would have severely restricted access to abortion in Texas, has been defeated after a day of political drama and confusion that saw a marathon filibuster speech, procedural wranglings and a loud public protest fanned by nationwide support on social media.

David Dewhurst, the Texas lieutenant governor, acknowledged he had missed the midnight deadline to sign the Bill, which Democrats had spent most of the day trying to block.

One Democrat senator, Wendy Davis, spoke for 10 hours and 45 minutes in an attempt to filibuster the Bill. When procedural motions brought by Republican opponents forced her to stop speaking, Democrat colleagues attempted to run down the clock.

Mr Dewhurst said the 19-10 vote was in time, but "with all the ruckus and noise going on, I couldn't sign the Bill". He blamed the delay on "an unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics", said the Austin American-Statesman.

"I didn't lose control [of the chamber]. We had an unruly mob," Mr Dewhurst said. He then hinted that Governor Rick Perry might immediately call another special session, adding: "It's over. It's been fun. But see you soon."

As the deadline came, opponents of the Bill in the public gallery erupted into cheers and catcalls, delaying the vote, which took place on the stroke of midnight.

Initially, Republicans insisted they had started voting before midnight, but official computer records and printouts showed the vote took place yesterday, but had been changed to read Tuesday.

Senators convened for a private meeting, after which Mr Dewhurst acknowledged that the vote had been derailed.

The Bill would have banned abortions after 20-weeks, limit abortion-inducing drugs and require terminations to be performed in ambulatory surgical centres.–(Guardian service)