Democrats Plan to Kill Texas Abortion Bill With 13-Hour Filibuster

[Coyotl]

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:40 PM - Edit history (3)

Source: NBC - DFW = By WILL WEISSERT and JIM VERTUNO

NBC is providing a live stream of video from the floor of the Texas Senate where Democratic Senator Wendy Davis is filibustering Senate Bill #5. Please refresh this page if video issues are seen.

A Democratic state senator has begun a filibuster to block passage of a proposal that would effectively close most abortion clinics in Texas.

Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth began the filibuster at 11:18 a.m. CDT Tuesday. To derail a vote in the GOP-dominated Texas Senate, she must keep speaking on the bill until midnight -- the deadline for the end of the 30-day special session.

Rules stipulate she remain standing, not lean on her desk or take any breaks -- even for meals or to use the bathroom. Other Democrats can give her voice a break by offering questions to keep conversation moving. ...

Read more: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Democrats-Plan-to-Kill-Texas-Abortion-Bill-With-13-Hour-Filibuster-212885911.html

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Sen. Wendy Davis on Senate Bill 5 in Texas has to talk for 13 hours, until midnight. She can’t sit or lean, no food or water of bathroom breaks.

We want people to show solidarity with her. Please share with your networks.



:large

[Just Saying]

1. Go Wendy!

It must feel good to have an advocate with some backbone standing up for up you in Texas!

[Coyotl]

23. Send Senator @WendyDavisTexas a message of support as she filibusters #SB5

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Send Senator @WendyDavisTexas a message of support as she filibusters #SB5

The Honorable Wendy Davis
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

[e-mail]

[progree]

39. Here's the live stream w/o leaving DU. 1 click and tape's rolling

[Coyotl]

45. 18,447 watching now

18,447 watching now
Like 2,673 Dislike 47

[Coyotl]

50. 36,816 watching now

36,816 watching now
Like 6,561 Dislike 101

[Coyotl]

57. 53,708 watching now

53,708 watching now
Like 8,685 Dislike 144

[Coyotl]

64. 106,005 watching now

106,005 watching now
Like 11,179 Dislike 204

[Coyotl]

67. 141,213 watching now

[Coyotl]

68. 153,823 watching now

[Coyotl]

71. 160,629 watching now

[Coyotl]

72. 172,292 watching now

[Coyotl]

76. 180,518 watching now

[Just Saying]

59. I see she's still going!

I'll send a message.

We need more women like her in politics!

[Ash_F]

2. Proud to have her in our Senate.

We need more like her.

[immoderate]

3. Depends!

Don't filibuster without them!



--imm

[hamsterjill]

7. I don't care if she pees herself on the Senate floor!

I would stand with her in the puddle if I needed to! It's absurd that it has come to this, but play the game she must!

Go, Wendy, Go!!!!

[longship]

8. Hence, the name, Depends. Go Wendy, go! nt

[dsc]

4. At some point will the GOP give in

there are other things they want to pass and can't since she has the floor?

[NoPasaran]

9. There is a highway bill and a criminal justice bill

The Democrats offered to let those be taken up ahead of SB5. But the Republican leadership refused. So the likely outcome is that the filibuster kills all three bills and our Governor For Life calls another special session after this one ends at midnight.

[dsc]

11. I didn't realize he could just call another session

guess that removes some of the incentive to deal.

[NoPasaran]

13. Yeah, if they actually were interested in good governence they'd have revised the calender

And made Senator Davis filibuster for only ten or so hours.

[savalez]

5. Her colleagues should ask 3 hour long yes or no questions. n/t

[hamsterjill]

6. Go, Wendy, Go!

It all comes down on the shoulders of THIS woman! It's incredibly stupid to me that it's come to this. The majority of Texans support choice and the thousands of Texans who have been on the capitol grounds the last few days to protest AGAINST Senate Bill # 5 have been completely ignored by the fanatical, ill-informed, too-stupid-for-words Republicans!

I commend Ms. Davis for this and I am hoping and praying for her success today!

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. kick

[Ilsa]

12. Has the online video gone off?

I was getting DJIA ticker, then a black screen.

[NoPasaran]

14. Here's a link to the Texas Senate Media page

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php

Might as well crash their server too.

[Ilsa]

16. Thank you!

I found a link on WFAA page, too.

[Coyotl]

21. TexasTribune is top live news stream on YouTube right now!

Emily Ramshaw ?@eramshaw 16m
Wowza: @TexasTribune is top live news stream on YouTube right now! #sb5

:large

[iandhr]

15. How is she doing?

[Coyotl]

17. Really great. What a special speech. Wish I was in Austin!

Reading letters now: "a danger to women's general health, their mental health, ...."

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. My favorite West Wing episode is the one of the filibuster.

Good stuff. Go Sen Davis!

[MotherPetrie]

19. K&R

[Coyotl]

20. #SB5 = Retweet this:

Wendy Davis ?@WendyDavisTexas 16h

The leadership may not want to listen to TX women, but they will have to listen to me. I intend to filibuster this bill. #SB5 #txlege
Retweeted 2233 times

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SB5&src=typd

[freshwest]

22. Since the legislature is due to recess by law, this might work. Can Perry call a special session?

Sorry, I moved away during the Clinton era with a brief return during the Bush disaster. Where I live now it seems a special session can be called by the governor at almost any time. I don't even remember if there were any special sessions when I was most active in politics down there, sixties through eighties.

[Coyotl]

24. Over four hours now, only has to last until midnight and it is over.

[MrBig]

25. Unfortunately he can

I haven't read any statements from him or his people saying whether he would or wouldn't, but Perry does have the power to call another 30 day special session. I think he did this during the redistricting fiasco about 10 years ago.

[freshwest]

31. And as he's stated his biggest goal is to end abortion, he just might do so, sad to say.

Thanks for the info, at least I didn't live under Governor Goodhair. Stay strong, Texas.

[handmade34]

26. k&r

[Coyotl]

27. Sen. Deuell is being a complete moran, asking more than one question, Wendy unfazed!

What an idiot, trying to take over the floor with repeated questions and attempting to interrupt her repeatedly.

[mc51tc]

28. Thank you Texas Sen. Wendy Davis

I am watching the live feed, and you are doing a great job! Thanks again!

[sheshe2]

29. K&R!

For the Women of Texas!

[Iliyah]

30. Women of Texas show the

way!

[Coyotl]

32. Image Gallery:

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:26 PM - Edit history (5)

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[dhill926]

33. The K & R.....

hoping she makes it....

[Coyotl]

34. Some links:

Watch as a State Senator Wages an Epic Filibuster to Block Sweeping New Abortion Restrictions
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/06/25/wendy_davis_filibuster_watch_a_texas_democrat_try_to_block_her_state_s_sweeping.html

UPDATE: Texas State Senator Wendy Davis Has Taken Over The Floor Of The Texas Senate
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/update-texas-state-senator-wendy-davis-has-taken-over-the-floor-of-the-texas-senate/politics/2013/06/25/69569



Badass Texas Senator Launches Intense Filibuster Against Abortion Bill
http://jezebel.com/watch-badass-texas-senator-wendy-davis-filibuster-all-d-575326747

Sneaky Texas GOP Pushes Bill That Would Basically Ban Abortion
http://jezebel.com/sneaky-texas-gop-pushes-bill-that-would-basically-ban-a-557573028

[chillfactor]

35. I wish her the very best and great success....

GO WENDY!!!

[nomorenomore08]

62. Except that making abortion less accessible INCREASES cases like Gosnell's.

You want to do away with the back-alley butchers once and for all, you make it easier to get a SAFE, LEGAL abortion. I swear to God you guys have no fucking common sense.

And BTW I alerted on your post as well.

[Coyotl]

36. Some Tweets and the hashtags: --#sb5 #StandwithWendy #standwithtexaswomen #StandWithTXWomen #txlege

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:53 PM - Edit history (3)

#ShesMyHero #sb5 #txlege #StandwithWendy #standwithtexaswomen #prochoice #feministarmy #StandWithTXWomen

Kirsten Lovelace ?
My uterus is so indecisive today It either needs an old, male senator to tell it what to do or more cowbell. #sb5 #txlege

Nell Glazener-Cooney
Five hours in, seven to go. #nervous #sb5 #txlege

Hope Holz
At least Sen. Duell attempted to make #SB5 about medicine. Sen. Lucio is simply preaching about morality and unborn rights. #txlege

Jayme
Well at least this guy is admitting that the bill is all about preventing abortions NOT making them safer. #Sb5 #txlege

Michael Choate
So Lucio is basically admitting that this isn't a women's health initiative, but an anti-abortion bill. #StandwithWendy #sb5 #texlege

Anomaly
Mr Man, those stats you just mentioned, would be the stats of women being forced to give birth. #sb5 #txlege

Traci
If your personal faith prevents you from having an abortion, i respect that but forcing your faith on others is unconstitutional #sb5

Sharon Phillips
No woman, in TX or elsewhere, should have to continue her pregnancy if she doesn't want to, esp not to give other people babies

Barbara Disco
Listening to all these male Senators, confirms my belief; that, they shouldn't be legislating women's health! I #StandwithWendy #SB5

chettpritchett ?
"It hurts to hear those words, 'rape' & 'incest.'" -#Texas Sen. Lucio Guess, what? The acts hurt worse that the words. #sb5 #StandWithWendy

[BumRushDaShow]

38. K&R and thank you Wendy Davis

for your sacrifice on behalf of the women of Texas!

[idwiyo]

40. K&R

[Coyotl]

41. Republicans are beginning to make parlimentary moves to stop the filibuster.

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:07 PM - Edit history (2)

The Presiding Officer (Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst) can rule on points of order, and if he warns Sen. Wendy Davis three times that she is speaking off-topic of the bill in question, the chamber votes on whether or not to end debate, effectively giving the Republican majority the chance to end the filibuster. Watch them abuse this situation as needed, using the power of one white guy to deny abortions to Texas women, mainly to poor women of color.

[barackbacker]

42. GO WENDY

Well the Re(pube)licans are at it again! The Holy than thou need to get with the plan! The sooner we eliminate the Pubes, the sooner we can get this country back to financial greatness and stature!

[primavera]

43. Why does she have to speak in order to filibuster?

Republicans only have to threaten to filibuster... or, no, wait, they don't even have to do that, it's just understood that everything requires a supermajority to pass now.

[Coyotl]

44. Seven hours down, less than six hours to victory!

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:13 PM - Edit history (2)

Trending Topic
What journalists are saying about #StandWithWendy
http://muckrack.com/topic/%23standwithwendy

Sarah Bruning
RT Cheering on @WendyDavisTexas as she schools the Texas Senate on women's rights. Go go fillibuster! #standwithwendy #SB5

Welcome to standwithwendy.net Want to buy this domain?

[Coyotl]

46. OMG, now the Republicans are making a fuss because someone helped Wendy put on a back brace

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Point of Order? WTF?? Like a bunch of little whining kids not getting their way.

How many of these idiot spawn are here today because abortion wasn't before?

At least Wendy is getting a nice break for her voice.

David Dewhurst 'you can't sit' while we discuss this crap. Meanwhile a new point of inquiry regarding a rule that requires her to sit during a point of order discussion. This is moving into the realm of surreality.

6:55 Dewhurst, "The Point of Order is overruled." Which one? Now they are chatting off-mic at the podium some more. While we have never seen this before, "this issue should be put to the body" so now we have to have a debate on whether or now one member can help another put on a back brace. What a bunch on morons!

Now they are talking about using a wastebasket to relieve oneself during a filibuster. It actually happened in this chamber (pun intended).

[Coyotl]

47. Jill Biden "Arguing over the technicality of a back brace which will determine what happens ...."

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Dr. Jill Biden
Arguing over the technicality of a back brace which will determine what happens to women's bodies. Well done government #StandWithWend

Gina
Here it is, folks: pic clearly shows Davis put on her own back brace as Ellis stood close w/no apparent contact

A Category Five
Quite ironic that Roe v Wade wasn't germane for discussion, but ok to argue about a back brace for an hour.

Deb Harris-Balling
TX GOP so concerned about women's "health" object to Wendy Davis putting on a back brace during 13 hr. filibuster.

Christy ?
Wendy Davis' back brace already has a twitter account.

Nancy Pelosi
Inspired by courage & dedication of @WendyDavisTexas in standing up for women on #SB5. I #StandWithWendy. Do you? http://goo.gl/DghSn

[Coyotl]

58. Barack Obama tweeted‏ "Something special is happening in Austin tonight"

Barack Obama ?
Something special is happening in Austin tonight: http://OFA.BO/CBZ6c7 #StandWithWendy
Retweeted 7039 times

[derby378]

48. Four hours to go!

[Coyotl]

49. End of #TXLege Special Session ONLINE Countdown Clock

End of #TXLege Special Session

[krispos42]

51. k&r

fucking Republicans

[Coyotl]

52. Here we go again, an attempt to end the filibuster by objection in the form of a question.

And a "point of order" wasn't even made, but the chair is going to rule it seems, so apparently the fix is in.

[Turbineguy]

53. What bothers me

is the amount of energy spent undoing the damage that repubs to. Work hard and do a great job to stay at zero.

[Coyotl]

54. Magic Rape Kit story on Rachel Maddow:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1014&pid=518211

[Auntie Bush]

55. I've been watching and listening for hours

If Wendy can talk...I can at least listen. She isn't just rambling on and on but tearing this law to pieces with excellent descriptions and proof of all the erroneous information this bill includes.

If Wendy succeeds in her mission...All the future generations of American women will have her to thank.

Way to go Wendy...only an hour and 15 minuts to go!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matilda]

56. Progressives in Australia are also following this via Twitter.

An inspiration to all women.

[Coyotl]

60. #standwithwendy feed now has several tweets every second

https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23standwithwendy&src=typd

View from the 4th floor of line to get into Senate Chamber:

:large

[Coyotl]

61. Sure enough, the fix was in. The crowed is now taking over the chamber and they cut off the sound.

The sound is back but the chanting continues, "Let her speak."

[Coyotl]

63. Blue TX! We are watching history in the making to be sure, and the R's don't know what the rules are

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:18 PM - Edit history (1)

but they sure know how to make them to their advantage as they go without regard for justice or fairness.

[progree]

65. Gallery chanting "let her speak" Video (around 10:00 pm Central)

On Edit I changed chant from "anarchy anarchy" to "let her speak". Thanks for the correction.

[alp227]

66. Just heard about a "third objection" on KRLD Newsradio 1080 Dallas

but the senator is still standing.

(ETA) Fort Worth Star-Telegram (her district's local paper) reporting: "...Republicans appeared to succeed in busting the talk-a-thon just two hours short of midnight’s scheduled adjournment."

(ETA2) Watching the livestream on YouTube /watch?v=2Q8Hr0O20LY

Texas Senate TV says "Filibuster In Progress" HALF AN HOUR (minus 2 mins) TO GO!!!!!

(ETA3) BUMMER, the filibuster is now officially OVER.

[progree]

69. Pandemonium for more than 5 minutes straight

[Matilda]

70. I had tears in my eyes as I listened to the crowd chanting.

But hard to believe this is happening in 2013 ...

I'm switching between our House of Representatives and Texas - what a day!

[Coyotl]

73. 12:00 P.M. in Texas, session is over.

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)

[Coyotl]

75. And the crowd goes crazy. Yeee Haaaaa!

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:23 PM - Edit history (2)

[Comrade Grumpy]

74. The capitol is in chaos at three minutes to midnight!!!

Can the cheering continue until then and stop this sucker?

They were trying to take a final vote to pass it, I think.

[sweetloukillbot]

77. They were voting to end the filibuster with about a minute left

They took a vote on the bill after midnight, but it sounds like they're still trying to say it counted.

[Coyotl]

78. 180,000 witnesses on YouTube saw vote not completed before midnight, when the session ended by law

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:48 PM - Edit history (3)

But, it seems they posted the vote total sometime later.

[Coyotl]

84. Illegal records tampering by GOP in abortion vote? (UPDATE)

Illegal records tampering by GOP in abortion vote? (UPDATE)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/26/1219258/-Illegal-records-tampering-by-GOP-in-abortion-vote

Last night someone may have tampered with the record of the vote on the extremist anti-choice legislation that was successfully filibustered by Wendy Davis.

After trying all sorts of other BS tactics, including running roughshod over procedure and objections from the floor, Texas Taliban Republicans attempted to hold a vote on the bill.

But the vote did not occur before the midnight deadline.

However - someone apparently went into the electronic record of when the vote occurred and ALTERED IT AFTER THE FACT to falsely indicate the vote occurred before midnight.

The photographic proof that this occurred was tweeted by a Texas Congressman. .... Juan Chuy Hinojosa .....

[Coyotl]

79. TEXAS ABORTION BILL FALLS AFTER CHALLENGE = Jun. 26 4:01 AM EDT

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 07:27 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=518822

TEXAS ABORTION BILL FALLS AFTER CHALLENGE
By CHRIS TOMLINSON and JIM VERTUNO
— Jun. 26 4:01 AM EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' lieutenant governor has acknowledged that Republicans missed their deadline to pass new abortion restrictions after protesters screamed down lawmakers as the final 15 minutes passed before the special legislative session's deadline.

Senators from both parties emerged from a private meeting with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and said they were about to officially acknowledge that fact.

Immediately following the vote, Republicans insisted they had started voting before the midnight deadline and passed the bill ...

=====================

[Coyotl]

80. In Texas Filibuster, YouTube Stands Up While “24/7″ News Falls

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 08:29 PM - Edit history (1)

In Texas Filibuster, YouTube Stands Up While “24/7? News Falls

The ticking-clock late-night showdown over an abortion bill was riveting TV news. So why did it play out almost entirely online?
By James Poniewozik June 26, 2013
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/06/26/in-texas-filibuster-youtube-stands-up-while-247-news-falls/

Late Tuesday night, the hottest news network in the country may have been the YouTube livestream of the Texas State Senate. Democratic State Sen. Wendy Davis had spent 11 hours on the floor filibustering a bill put forth by Republicans that would effectively forced the closure of most of the clinics in the state that provide abortions. It was no mere procedural filibuster but an actual, old-fashioned, talk-’til-you-stop drama, in which Davis had to hold the floor—without bathroom breaks, rest, or even leaning on anything. (She wore a back brace to support her standing.) The clock was ticking toward midnight, when the special session of the Senate would end.

It was a drama made for live TV. But it played out almost exclusively online.

.......... As protesters massed in the gallery, the GOP majority attempted to close debate and bring a vote, and Democrats maneuvered to stall after their rivals forced Davis to stop speaking on procedural grounds, well over 100,000 YouTube viewers were tuned to the channel–closer to 200,000 as zero hour approached. That’s a six-figure viewership, after primetime in most time zones, watching legislators argue over Robert’s Rules of Order and who properly held the floor.

......... It was online and in social media where the story really took off, and even played out. As partisans from both sides traded shots on YouTube, Twitter became an extension of the Senate gallery, with users weighing in (President Obama’s twitter account directed attention to the filibuster at one point), cracking jokes, and even offering unsolicited advice to the legislators on the points of Texas parliamentary procedure.

The night closed with the kind of chaotic, acrimonious, tense finish ....

[Coyotl]

81. VIDEO: Sen. Wendy Davis KVUE "...it wouldn't have happened without that gallery..."

Senator Wendy Davis at KVUE
http://www.kvue.com/video?id=213186671&sec=551407&ref=articlevidmod
Posted 2013:06:26:14:33

Texas Senator Wendy Davis stopped by KVUE after her more than 10-hour filibuster ....

"...it wouldn't have happened without that gallery..."

[Coyotl]

82. GREAT READ = Texas Monthly: A Bill is Killed; A Star is Born

http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/bill-killed-star-born

A Bill is Killed; A Star is Born

With all the strange and incredible things that happened in the Texas Capitol yesterday, there’s one point that’s gone almost unnoticed.

It was the biggest day for Texas Democrats in a generation–people did notice that part–and it could easily have never happened.

Within the past 24 hours or so, the state’s pending abortion bill, which supporters and opponents agreed would severely restrict access to abortion services in Texas, was killed—at least for now. The entire Texas Democratic Party has apparently been reanimated. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, as senators tried to figure out what they had just done—seriously—there were still hundreds of activists packed in the capitol, singing and cheering and, probably, pinching themselves.

And Texas’s long-suffering Democrats should be excited, because for the first time in years they appear to have a realistic shot at winning a statewide executive office in 2014. Wendy Davis , the Democratic state senator from Fort Worth, vaulted to national attention yesterday ....

[Coyotl]

83. Davis says voting documents altered after filibuster

Davis says voting documents altered after filibuster
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/06/davis-says-voting-documents-altered-after-filibuster/

Sen. Wendy Davis told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that a fellow senator was informed by a Capitol staff member that the official voting documents had been purposefully changed to falsify the time of the vote on SB 5, the bill killed in her dramatic Tuesday night filibuster.

The discovery was important, she said, because had the vote been stamped on 6/25, rather than 6/26, the bill would have passed.

“We know it was purposeful,” she said. “I think there will be further investigation.”

......

[Coyotl]

85. Texas Legislature Changes Timestamps on SB5 Votes

Good screen captures here:

Texas Legislature Changes Timestamps on SB5 Votes
http://themoderatevoice.com/183478/texas-legislature-changes-timestamps-on-sb5-votes/

... Here’s my screen capture at 10.59 pm Pacific. I was clued to the fact that the legislature’s website was displaying what my eyes and ears heard as I watched the livestream: two votes were taken after midnight.



Moments after I tweeted the screen capture, I was unable to access the webpage. .... And when it finally refreshed, all votes were recorded as having taken place before midnight on June 25.



.... Sen. Leticia Van De Putte (D) told Texas Public Radio that “Republicans in the Senate, including the lieutenant governor, asked clerks” to make the time change. .....

[Coyotl]

86. TimeStampGate - Felonious Conspiracy by Texas Republicans was led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dewhurst

TimeStampGate - Felonious Conspiracy by Texas Republicans was led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dewhurst
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10023111696

The evidence of the crime is irrefutable and two criminal counts apply because two vote records were altered.
That this rises to a Texas Jail Felony seems certain given the statutes ...

Reading posts and news following Sen. Wendy Davis' successful filibuster reveals a conspiracy led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dewhurst.
The obvious implication is the end of his political career. At the least, his resignation should be sought immediately.

.....