A Texas Democrat wants to amend the state constitution and potentially allow unborn babies to be killed in abortions again.
But the chance of state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, succeeding is basically zero after Texas voters elected more pro-life lawmakers to office in November.
The Texas Tribune reports Talarico claims his bill is not “pro-choice or anti-choice,” although the language betrays him. He said his proposed state constitutional amendment would allow voters to decide if they think state lawmakers should be allowed to pass more restrictions on abortion.
“It takes the authority out of our hands and gives it directly to the people that we serve and represent, and I’m hoping that that idea will start to gain traction amongst all my colleagues in this building,” he said.
Texas protects unborn babies by banning all elective abortions, and its pro-life laws have saved thousands of babies’ lives.
Talarico admitted that his proposal likely will not pass, but said he would keep trying. To amend the Texas Constitution, the language must pass the state legislature by a two-thirds majority and then be approved by a majority of voters on a state-wide ballot.
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“It’s often the case that ideas need to be proposed in multiple sessions before they finally become law,” he continued. “Next session, maybe the session after that, as abortion continues to define our politics, as it increasingly becomes a difficult issue for some of my Republican colleagues since so many Texans are pro-choice, this may be an idea that can build momentum.”
But Texas Right to Life president John Seago told the news outlet that Texas voters have spoken and they support pro-life lawmakers.
“If Texans really wanted to undo the pro-life victories, then they need to elect pro-abortion majorities in both chambers, and that obviously has not been what the electorate has decided to do in the last election,” Seago said.
Republicans control the state legislature and the governor’s office. Texans even elected more pro-life lawmakers in November, defying pro-abortion Democrats’ predictions that state abortion bans would hurt pro-life candidates’ election chances.
Last year, Texas became the first state in nearly 50 years to enforce a pre-viability abortion ban. Its heartbeat law, which has been in effect for more than a year, saved an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 unborn babies’ lives, according to researchers.
Then, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Texas began enforcing a total abortion ban that is expected to save tens of thousands more every year. Prior to the two laws, approximately 57,000 unborn babies were aborted in the state every year.
