Here’s an interesting article from the National Journal that looks at the lasting effects of abortion-restricting legislation recently passed in Texas. Even though elements of the laws are likely to be decided by the Supreme Court, as the article notes, abortion providers in the state are facing closures, and may never reopen no matter what the courts ultimately decide.
There were more than 40 clinics that provided abortions in Texas in 2011. There are now 20 still open, and after the law’s last steps of implementation are taken in September, all but six are expected to close. Most of the closed clinics will never reopen, their operators say.
Texas’ laws that put new restrictions on abortion providers became the subject of a national dialogue after Sen. Wendy Davis conducted a day-long filibuster attempting to block it from going through last year. Though initially successful, Gov. Rick Perry eventually had the new measures passed, effectively shutting down almost every abortion provider in the state …
