Texas Abortion Bill Fails

04:58

June 26, 2013

Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, left, who tries to filibuster an abortion bill, reacts as time expires, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP)

A bill in the Texas Senate that would virtually ban abortion in the state failed to pass overnight after Wendy Davis, a state senator from Fort Worth, staged a nearly 13-hour filibuster.

Republican senators made a last-ditch effort to pass the bill by a midnight deadline, drawing the jeers of outraged protesters in the gallery, but their effort failed.

Lawmakers were able to vote in time, but Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the chaos in the chamber prevented him from formally signing the measure before midnight.

Texas Governor Rick Perry could call the state legislature back into session as early as today to reconsider the bill.

The Texas legislature will also revisit state redistricting changes once blocked by the Department of Justice, following yesterday's Supreme Court ruling striking down a key section of the Voting Rights Act.

Guest:

Ben Philpott, host for KUT News in Austin, Texas. He tweets @BenPhilpottKUT.

This segment aired on June 26, 2013.

policy