Texas emerges as new battleground in abortion fight
| The nationwide battle over abortion is now focused squarely on Texas after the state’s “fetal heartbeat” law went into effect Wednesday.
While opponents were hoping the Supreme Court would intervene before the midnight deadline, the inaction by the justices means the second most populous state has the country’s most restrictive abortion law, one that curtails access for millions of women. Anti-abortion groups are celebrating enactment of the statute as the state law offers a glimpse of a potential post-Roe v. Wade world for the first time in almost half a century. Reproductive rights advocates and providers, meanwhile, are sounding the alarm with warnings of cascading effects in and beyond Texas. They’re also keeping their eyes on the Supreme Court and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Texas. |
