Wendy Davis Is Going for a 13 Hour Filibuster

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

The Story

Wearing pink tennis shoes to prepare for nearly 13 consecutive hours of standing, a Democratic Texas state senator on Tuesday began a one-woman filibuster to block a GOP-led effort that would impose stringent new abortion restrictions across the nation's second-most populous state.

Sen. Wendy Davis, 50, of Fort Worth began the filibuster at 11:18 a.m. CDT Tuesday and passed the nine-hour mark in her countdown to midnight -- the deadline for the end of the 30-day special session.

Before Davis began speaking, her chair was removed. CBSDFW.com reports that Davis must speak continuously -- and stay on topic -- the entire time. She is not allowed to lean against something for support. And she will not be able to stop or take a break, not even for meals or the restroom, during the entire 13-hour ordeal.

Davis offered some insight to her plans Monday night on Twitter:


If signed into law, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas, a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long with 26 million people. A woman living along the Mexico border or in West Texas would have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain an abortion if the law passes.

In her opening remarks, Davis said she was "rising on the floor today to humbly give voice to thousands of Texans" and called Republican efforts to pass the bill a "raw abuse of power."

Democrats chose Davis to lead the effort because of her background as a woman who had her first child as a teenager and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.

In the hallway outside the Senate chamber, hundreds of women stood in line, waiting for people in the gallery to give up their seats. Women's rights supporters wore orange T-shirts to show their support for Davis, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst reminded those in the gallery that interrupting the proceedings could results in 48 hours in jail.

Davis tried to stay comfortable and sharp by shifting her weight from hip to hip and slowly walking around her desk while reading notes from a large binder on her desk. When a male protester stood in the Senate gallery and shouted, "Abortion is genocide," Davis continued talking uninterrupted as the man was removed by security.

If the filibuster succeeds, it could also take down other measures. A proposal to fund major transportation projects as well as a bill to have Texas more closely conform with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision banning mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole for offenders younger than 18 might not get votes. Current state law only allows a life sentence without parole for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder.

Twice in the first six hours, anti-abortion lawmakers questioned Davis about the bill, presenting their arguments that it would protect women or that abortions were wrong. Davis answered their questions but did not give up control of the floor.

"This is really about women's health," said Sen. Bob Deuell, who introduced a requirement that all abortions take place in surgical centers. "Sometimes bad things can happen."

Davis questioned then why vasectomies and colonoscopies aren't also required to take place in such clinics. "Because I've been unable to have a simple question answered to help me understand how this would lead to better care for women, I must question the underlying motive for doing so."

Davis read testimony from women and doctors who would be impacted by the changes, but who were denied the opportunity to speak in a Republican-controlled committee. During one heart-wrenching story describing a woman's difficult pregnancy, Davis choked up several times and wiped tears.

The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles -- a tall order in rural communities.

"If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas governor Ann Richards.

CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports many clinics would be forced to shut down because they wouldn't be able to afford the changes required by the law. Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of Whole Woman's Health, said it would cost up to $2 million for each of her clinics to be upgraded to hospital-style operating rooms.

"I'd have to knock down the wall between this room and another room, I'd have to add airflow systems, I'd have to get oxygen piped in through walls instead of tank in here," she explained in one of her centers.

What do you think of Wendy Davis and her 13 hour filibuster?

IMO, Wendy Davis is one of the greatest heroes of the modern age. She gets no breaks, can't sit, can't lean on the podium, can't get off topic, and they even tried to make her stop reading from papers or an iPad. And she's doing all of this for women's rights. She's fifty, she doesn't have to worry about having abortions for herself. She's doing this for every other woman in Texas, and I certainly Stand with Wendy.

So far, she's gotten two strikes, has been interrupted multiple times (which which she basically responded, "Go fuck yourself.") A man in the "audience" screamed about abortion being murder, and she didn't bat an eye lash. At the moment, she is waiting for judgement on whether or not she was off-topic. She has just over 2 hours left at this time.

NOTE: Let's try not to make this an abortion thread. What do you think of her actions, and the actions of those trying to stop her?

Watch it live, here

[Bombadil]

I admire her and every woman who has to put up with the sanctimonious bullshit and downright misogyny shown by what are, to my mind, nothing more than [insert suitable adjective] bullies.

[Cannot think of a name]

Aw, they're just sort of milling about...I was hoping for some good ol' Mr Smith Goes to Washington action, dammit.

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

Aw, they're just sort of milling about...I was hoping for some good ol' Mr Smith Goes to Washington action, dammit.

They have to turn off the microphones while they vote on her third strike. If they vote that she was off-topic, it's over. If not, she has just 2 hours until she beats the bill.

[Cannot think of a name]

Aw, they're just sort of milling about...I was hoping for some good ol' Mr Smith Goes to Washington action, dammit.

They have to turn off the microphones while they vote on her third strike. If they vote that she was off-topic, it's over. If not, she has just 2 hours until she beats the bill.

That seems like a loaded system, who gets to vote if she was 'off topic', the people who want her to shut up?

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

They have to turn off the microphones while they vote on her third strike. If they vote that she was off-topic, it's over. If not, she has just 2 hours until she beats the bill.

That seems like a loaded system, who gets to vote if she was 'off topic', the people who want her to shut up?

Exactly. They've voted one other time since I've been watching, which hasn't been that long, but I was outside lighting paper lanterns.

And they're back... And Davis lost...

[Cannot think of a name]

Fuck, that's it.

[Cannot think of a name]

but I was outside lighting paper lanterns.

Best excuse ever.

[Desperate Measures]

Whoa.

[Cannot think of a name]

I would love for this cat's tactic would be to keep making parliamentary inquiries until time runs out.

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

One senator is trying to overrule the ruling of the chair at this time.

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

I would love for this cat's tactic would be to keep making parliamentary inquiries until time runs out.

I know, he is suddenly a new hero.

[Gauthier]

I'm surprised Texas wasn't mentioned in the Old Testament at this point. Between this and the voter suppression ID drive I'm surprised women within visible sight of abortion clinics and contraceptives aren't being stoned to death... yet.

[Spartan Philidelphia]

I'm against filibustering unless it benefits me.

[Astrolinium]

What a great woman. This is all terribly interesting.

[Cannot think of a name]

I would love for this cat's tactic would be to keep making parliamentary inquiries until time runs out.

I know, he is suddenly a new hero.

I dig the, "It is my understanding that this is a debatable motion"...yep, it seems like that's exactly what they're going to do, drag the debate out...

...wait, someone is trying to throw water on it.

[The Serbian Empire]

Any politician who produces a long filibuster is good one as I like a good oratory performance.

[Torcularis Septentrionalis]

I know, he is suddenly a new hero.

I dig the, "It is my understanding that this is a debatable motion"...yep, it seems like that's exactly what they're going to do, drag the debate out...

...wait, someone is trying to throw water on it.

ALl the democrats are apparently going to continue making parlimentary inquiries until midnight.
Figuratively having sex with my computer right now.
Also, the glorious chanting - "Let her speak! Let her speak! Let her speak!"

[Cannot think of a name]

I dig the, "It is my understanding that this is a debatable motion"...yep, it seems like that's exactly what they're going to do, drag the debate out...

...wait, someone is trying to throw water on it.

ALl the democrats are apparently going to continue making parlimentary inquiries until midnight.
Figuratively having sex with my computer right now.
Also, the glorious chanting - "Let her speak! Let her speak! Let her speak!"

How long have they got to go? Time zones make me sleepy...

EDIT: Nevermind, I forget I'm surrounded by technology specifically to let me know this shit without much effort, less than two hours.

[Greed and Death]

If those people outside don't hush the the state militia will have to clear them out.

[Desperate Measures]

So, is what happening now a filibuster during a filibuster?

[Gauthier]

So, is what happening now a filibuster during a filibuster?

Filibusterception?

[Cannot think of a name]

So, is what happening now a filibuster during a filibuster?

Filibusterception?

bwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-parlimentary inquiry...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Brocwika]

speak continuously -- and stay on topic -- the entire time. She is not allowed to lean against something for support. And she will not be able to stop or take a break, not even for meals or the restroom, during the entire 13-hour ordeal.

Sounds like some medieval shit right there.

[Christian Democrats]

What do you think of Wendy Davis and her 13 hour filibuster?

It's reminiscent of Democratic filibusters of anti-segregation laws in the 1950s and 1960s.