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September 2, 2014

Judges Block Anti-Abortion Laws in Louisiana and Texas, Sparing Clinics 
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Federal judges have blocked a pair of new laws that could have closed
most of the 19 abortion clinics in Texas and all five of facilities in
Louisiana. On Friday, a federal judge blocked a Texas law due to take
effect Monday that would have required all abortion clinics to meet the
same standards as hospital-style surgery centers — even those that
offer non-surgical abortions with medication, and simple early surgical
abortions. Last year, the controversial rule drew mass protest and an
11-hour filibuster by State Sen. Wendy Davis, who is now running for
governor. Meanwhile on Sunday, a federal judge in Louisiana issued a
temporary restraining order just hours before a new abortion law would
have begun forcing physicians who provide abortion services to have
patient-admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their
practice. We will have more on this story after headlines.

 

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