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U.S. NEWS Friday 15 June 2018

Texas abortion clinics sue to undo laws dating back decades

By PAUL J. WEBER obstacles to access. The
Associated Press abortion provider Whole
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Woman's Health, in a new
abortion providers who won lawsuit filed in Austin, now
a landmark U.S. Supreme wants that same standard
Court ruling in 2016 that applied to older laws.
blocked a new wave of More than half of Texas'
anti-abortion efforts are abortion clinics shuttered
now using that decision under the 2013 law, and
to try undoing laws on the five years later, only three
books for decades in a have reopened, Whole
lawsuit filed Thursday. Woman's Health CEO Amy
In suing over anti-abortion Hagstrom Miller said.
measures that stretch back "This is a different strategy,"
20 years in some cases, Hagstrom Miller said.
Texas clinics are putting "Some of the things we're
a new spin on what has challenging are 10, 20
become a recurring cycle years old."
in GOP-controlled states Among the old Texas laws
— Legislatures passing new being newly challenged
abortion laws, followed are requirements that only
by opponents rushing to doctors and not clinic staff
court before they can take can perform abortions,
effect. licensing standards, In this June 27, 2016, file photo, abortion rights activists rejoice in front of the Supreme Court in
Mississippi, which has just required ultrasounds in Washington as the justices struck down the strict Texas anti-abortion restriction law known as HB2.
one abortion clinic, was which the image of the Associated Press
similarly sued in April over fetus is shown to the patient
a slate of longstanding and 24-hour waiting Earlier this year, Paxton's necessary to protect Texas courts nationwide. Last
abortion laws. periods. office asked lawmakers to women from unhygienic, week, Planned Parenthood
Abortion providers say the A spokesman for consider expanding the unqualified clinics that asked a federal judge to
Supreme Court opened Republican Texas Attorney attorney general's office to put women's lives and block an Arkansas law that
the door when it struck General Ken Paxton said enforce abortion laws. reproductive health at risk," restricts how abortion pills
down a sweeping 2013 the Supreme Court has "Abortion providers have Paxton spokesman Marc are administered, arguing
Texas law that put stricter already upheld similar been complying with the Rylander said. the restrictions make the
demands on doctors and requirements and called laws being challenged in The Texas lawsuit joins state the first in the U.S. to
clinics, ruling that the the lawsuit part of a "radical this case for years. They are a flurry of challenges to effectively ban that form of
benefits didn't justify the pro-abortion agenda." common-sense measures abortion laws in federal abortion.q