#TXLEGE: Barring a special session, Abortion Tourism is inevitably coming to Texas

"because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
Romans 1:21

Louisiana last night:

Louisiana's state legislature on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a so-called "heartbeat" pro-life bill, becoming the latest in a slew of states to enact strict new restrictions on abortion that many conservatives have hoped will end with the Supreme Court revisiting its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, has said he will buck the national party establishment and sign the measure into law. Another Democrat, state Sen. John Milkovich, sponsored the bill -- underscoring the deep pro-life culture in Louisiana, even among liberal politicians.

The bill, which cleared the Louisiana House by a 79-23 vote, requires an ultrasound to be conducted prior to any abortion procedure being performed. If a fetal heartbeat is detected, the bill bans abortion unless, under penalty of perjury, the abortion provider declares the procedure necessary "to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman."

Which means Texas now has more permissive abortion laws that almost every neighboring state (except New Mexico) and the overwhelming majority of states within 500 miles.

[Note: While we're on the topic, it's worth pointing out Mexico's abortion laws are stricter than Alabama's.]

There's lots you can say.  Plenty already has been said.  We're sure more is coming.

But none of the commentary can change one new fact of life: A significant chunk of those abortions are coming to Texas.

It's a simple legal, and geographical, reality.

When that reality fully takes hold, the elected officials who allowed it will bear responsibility.  Whether this situation arose deliberately, or if it arose from ignorance, is irrelevant.  Reality will be reality.

However we got here, only one person can change that reality: Governor Greg Abbott.

Greg Abbott can call a special session.  We have the votes to pass any pro-life bill we want.  Of course, Abbott has already said he's not doing that.

Which means that, whenever abortion tourism inevitably rears its ugly head in Texas, Greg Abbott's gonna own those headlines.

Bottom Line: When you add the the legal reality to the geographical reality, the inevitable result is obvious...unless Greg Abbott wants to change that legal reality.