MetaChat - Government at work?

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25 June 2013

Government at work? The filibuster by my Texas State Senator, Wendy Davis, to stop an anti-abortion bill, is in peril. It is currently being ruled whether her filibuster violated Senate rules. The link goes to a live feed. High drama at times (although they are talking off-mic at the moment).

post by: Doohickie at: 22:58 | 13 comments

I have to say, though, that even the Republicans in favor of the bill are being more orderly than they were in Wisconsin.

posted by Doohickie 25 June | 23:02

Mrs. Doohickie's theory is that the ruling party (Republicans), in checking points of order, have discovered they've violated Senate rules and are looking for an out. If the bill is stalled until the top of the coming hour (57 minutes from now), the Senate Session ends and the bill dies.

posted by Doohickie 25 June | 23:04

Talking again....

posted by Doohickie 25 June | 23:27

Direct live youtube link.

posted by Doohickie 25 June | 23:35

Ack. Sounds like it passed, 17-12. San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro tweets, "When Texas turns Blue, tonight may well be looked upon as the beginning."

posted by Doohickie 26 June | 00:30

According to the Youtube feed, the vote was taken well after midnight, when the session was to end. Court challenges will no doubt follow.

posted by Doohickie 26 June | 00:33

I'm from Ft. Worth, and I was stoked to learn that Senator Davis represents Tarrant County. Tonight was proof that the tide is turning in Texas.

posted by Atom Eyes 26 June | 02:07

Texas doesn't have any provisions to extend their session beyond the adjournment deadline? Maine's loaded with 'em.

posted by JanetLand 26 June | 05:16

Or wait, did you mean the fed. gov't? I'm so embroiled in state gov't these days I forget the feds exist sometimes.

posted by JanetLand 26 June | 05:18

Texas State Senate, Janet. There are ways to extend, and this was, in fact, an extra session. The session was due to end at midnight, but apparently they have a clock that stops at 11:59 if the President of the Senate wants it to. In this case, though, there were lots of people who saw this, and there was no action to extend the session, so I would think this law would not pass a court challenge. But it's never that easy, is it?

posted by Doohickie 26 June | 07:12

Oh wait: "But at 3 a.m., Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst stepped to the Senate floor to declare the bill dead and the special session over."

Wendy and friends did it! :)

posted by Doohickie 26 June | 07:14

Yup!

posted by gaspode 26 June | 08:53

I am so relieved to her the bill died.

posted by MonkeyButter 26 June | 11:08

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