Dear Commons Community,

The fate of a sweeping Texas anti-abortion bill, filibustered for 11 hours by state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), was uncertain today after protesting Texans erupted in “pandemonium” as Republican lawmakers tried to vote before the special legislative session’s midnight expiration.  As reported in The Huffington Post and the New York Times:

With 12 minutes to go before the special session’s end at 12 a.m. local time, Senate Republicans tried to vote on the abortion bill. But the crowd of protesters in the capitol erupted into loud cheers and screams when state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte asked, “At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over her male colleagues?”

Amid the bedlam, it was unclear whether a vote was taken before the clock ran out on the session.  Republicans said it passed, according to the The Austin American-Statesman. Several Democrats told the newspaper the midnight deadline had passed while the vote was still being taken.

The raucous end climaxed Davis’ daylong filibuster, shut down by Senate Republicans 90 minutes before the legislative session expired.

Davis, who took no bathroom breaks and wore a back brace so she would not have to lean on anything, captured the attention of President Barack Obama, lawmakers, celebrities and spectators from around the world as she attempted to fight off Republican efforts to thwart her filibuster.

BRAVA Wendy!

Tony