Texas abortion rates plummet 60% in first month following new state law



Abortions in Texas fell by nearly 60% in the first four weeks following the implementation of the state's new heartbeat law, AP News reported on Thursday.

The state enacted a law banning the majority of abortive procedures once a health care provider can detect a fetal heartbeat — usually around six weeks' gestation.

What are the details?

The new law, widely believed to be the most restrictive abortion law in the country in decades, is said to be responsible for reducing abortions in the state by approximately 60%.

The outlet reported that there had been more than 5,400 abortions carried out across the state in August, while just 2,200 over the course of September. According to the state's department of health, abortions in the state peaked in March at more than 5,600 when the law was first introduced.

The new law went into effect on Sept. 1 after the U.S. Supreme Court failed to take up an injunction request by abortion providers. It authorizes citizens to file private lawsuits against abortion providers and their aides after the six-week cutoff mark.

No lawsuits have been filed at the time of this reporting.

Anything else?

The outlet reported that many women are likely traveling to other states in order to obtain abortions after the six-week mark.

The Dallas Morning News also reported that such women seeking abortions have traveled to surrounding states including Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

The Women's March on Wednesday tweeted about the plummeting rates and called for the law to be abolished.

"The first month after #SB8 took effect, abortions in Texas dropped almost 60% — not because people stopped needing care. Instead, Texans started traveling 300+ miles to out-of-state clinics, which struggle to keep up with demand. AbolishSB8."

The first month after #SB8 took effect, abortions in Texas dropped almost 60% \u2013 not because people stopped needing care.\n\nInstead, Texans started traveling 300+ miles to out-of-state clinics, which struggle to keep up with demand.\n\nAbolish SB8.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/02/07/abortions-in-texas-dropped-almost-60-in-the-first-month-after-new-sb-8-restrictions-were-imposed\u00a0\u2026
— Women's March (@Women's March) 1644444661

Earlier in February, pro-life advocacy group Texas Right to Life issued a statement on the news, which said that “the success of the Texas Heartbeat Act is embodied by every child saved.”

"For over 150 days, our work has saved an estimated 100 babies per day," sadi Texas Right to Life director of media and communication Kimberlyn Schwartz. "Our impact is only just beginning, as more states seek to replicate our success and as we look to the Mississippi case that could overturn Roe this summer."

Supreme Court issues another blow to abortion supporters trying to block Texas law



The opponents of Texas' new legislation against abortion saw another defeat at the U.S. Supreme Court after a majority refused a request Thursday that would bolster their efforts against the law.

Texas passed the ban on abortion after six weeks in May, 2021 and incurred a maelstrom of fury from pro-abortion advocates on the left.

In December, the Supreme Court ruled against the opponents of the law and allowed it to remain in force while clearing a path for the lawsuit to continue. Abortion providers sought to have the remaining lawsuit sent to a Texas judge, who has previously expressed skepticism in the legality of the law, rather than have it be sent to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where it has far less chance of success.

On Thursday, the majority ruled against the litigants without comment.

The liberal justices issued a scathing dissent excoriating the ruling.

"This case is a disaster for the rule of law and a grave disservice to women in Texas, who have a right to control their own bodies," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a dissent endorsed by Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan.

"I will not stand by silently as a State continues to nullify this constitutional guarantee," she added.

The procedural defeat for opponents of the Texas law means it will remain in force while the lawsuit drags on in the appeals court.

Abortion advocates immediately decried the decision.

"Once again, the court system is failing us. #SCOTUS has rejected a request from abortion providers to move #SB8 to a lower court. This means that #SB8 will remain in effect while we wait in legal limbo. This delay is unacceptable and a violation of our rights," tweeted the official account for Planned Parenthood Texas Votes.

Here's more about the fight over the Texas law:

Texas abortion law remains in place as judges decide who gets to hear the case nextwww.youtube.com

Texas abortion law allowed to resume after appeals court ruling



The Texas law that prohibits conducting abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected will go back into effect thanks to the issuance of a temporary stay by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The move came after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order against the law. Pitman, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, had written that "this Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right."

"Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8. I will fight federal overreach at every turn," tweeted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8. I will fight federal overreach at… https://t.co/ymNItmrMW7

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) 1633745077.0

Due to the appeals court's move, the Lone Star State law is reinstated pending additional legal actions, according to Fox News.

The law prohibits conducting abortions once an unborn child's heartbeat has been detected, though there is an exception in the case of medical emergencies.

People can lodge civil actions against violators, and the law stipulates that if a claimant prevails, the court should award at least $10,000 in statutory damages.

The legislation, which took effect in September, has sparked significant national controversy. While it marks a clear victory for the pro-life movement, abortion proponents have decried the law.

Pro-life advocate Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, cheered the news Friday night and tweeted, "The heartbeat law was saving an estimated 100 lives every day."

Truly amazing news. The heartbeat law was saving an estimated 100 lives every day.

— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) 1633746907.0

Woke Texas-based dating app companies Bumble and Match create funds to pay for abortions



Two Texas-based dating app companies have created funds to pay for abortions for women seeking to end the life of their unborn children after the Supreme Court declined to block the state's pro-life fetal heartbeat law.

The Texas law, Senate Bill 8, went into effect on Tuesday after the high court declined to take emergency action to block it. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court justices voted 5-4 to allow the law to remain in effect. The law bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, the time at which an unborn child has developed a heartbeat.

Abortion advocates opposing the law complain that most women might not even know they're pregnant at six weeks. They say Texas has effectively banned abortions within the state and done so unconstitutionally, based on Roe v. Wade's precedent.

In response to the court's decision, the Austin-based company Bumble announced on social media it would create a "relief fund" to help women and "people across the gender spectrum' seek abortions in the state.

"Bumble is women-founded and women-led, and from day one we've stood up for the most vulnerable. We'll keep fighting against regressive laws like #SB8," the company said.

Bumble is women-founded and women-led, and from day one we’ve stood up for the most vulnerable. We'll keep fighting… https://t.co/zp0K8KJlhq

— Bumble (@bumble) 1630535500.0

The CEO of Dallas-based company Match Group Inc. is also creating a fund to pay for employees to seek abortions. An internal memo from CEO Shar Dubey, first reported by Bloomberg, informs employees that while Match "generally does not take political stands unless it is relevant to our business ... this particular law is so regressive to the cause of women's rights that I felt compelled to speak publicly about my personal views."

Match Group Inc. owns some of the most popular dating apps and websites, including Tinder and OKCupid.

Dubey said she "immigrated to America from India over 25 years ago and I have to say, as a Texas resident, I am shocked that I now live in a state where women's reproductive laws are more regressive than most of the world, including India."

She told employees that the fund, which she's creating out of her own pocket, will help cover the costs for employees and dependents that want to seek abortions outside of Texas.

According to some estimates, Texas' heartbeat law will prohibit about 85% of abortions that were legal before it went into effect. The law has a unique enforcement mechanism, relying on private citizens to use civil lawsuits to bring anyone helping to procure an illegal abortion procedure into court for up to $10,000.