Democratic cities in Texas push to blunt impact of state's abortion ban

[In It to Win It]

The Guardian via Yahoo News

Across Texas, Democratic-held cities are galvanizing to mitigate the effects of the Republican-run state’s near-total abortion ban after the US supreme court voted in June to overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark case that gave Americans a constitutional right to terminate their pregnancies.

Texas’s capital, Austin, voted last week to “decriminalize” abortion in the city by passing the Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone (Grace) Act. Although abortion is still illegal in the state, the passing of the Grace Act will redirect the city’s budget to focus on going after more important crimes such as sexual assault, theft and burglary.

Local politicians in Waco, a city halfway between Austin and Dallas, followed suit and put forward their own version of the Grace Act for consideration.

Other cities such as San Antonio are also gearing up to protect those who receive and provide abortions. On Wednesday, the mayor, Ron Nirenberg, and the city council gathered on the steps of city hall to announce the consideration of a similar resolution in support of reproductive rights.

[UTUSN]

1. Kudos to them!

[Thunderbeast]

2. Noble cause

I find it hard to believe that Greg Abbott or Ken Paxton will let cities or counties "opt out" of proscecution.

Too great an opportunity for them to grandstand.

[NJCher]

5. Speaking from a communications standpoint, however

The news media may cover a few of his first cases, but then it is “old news” and buh-bye to any further grandstanding on that particular issue.

[quakerboy]

3. While this is what we can do, I predict shenagins

With Pro Human Rights States and Cities declining to investigate/prosecute/collaborate on abusing persons involved in abortion, I predict that the anti-women states will start trumping up other charges to get cooperation/information/extradition, then dropping those charges once they have what they want and can attack more directly.

[Roy Rolling]

4. Atheist, Theist, or Agnostic

All must agree—depending on the U.S. government to enforce laws favorable to your faith won’t work. You may be against abortion, but when enlisting a government to enforce your belief is when the trouble starts. Just like this. The Supreme Court has ruled, factions cheer the end of a decades-long struggle, then immediately Austin won’t enforce it. Oh well.

Remember those Peanuts cartoons with Charlie Brown trying to kick a football snatched away at the last minute by Lucy? Nature/God/The Universe always has the last word.

Keep the separation of church and state.