Sonograms about information for some, stopping abortions for others

AUSTIN – As the debate over pre-abortion sonograms gained steam, Republicans began to market their bills as adamantly anti-abortion, while Democrats who crossed party lines painted the measures as more about sharing information.

Only hours after the House of Representatives gave final approval to its version of legislation requiring doctors to perform, show and describe ultra-sound images for women seeking an abortion, Gov. Rick Perry sent a statement including the following quote to reporters: “The decision to choose life becomes clear when someone has access to all the information….”

While defending the legislation, which he sponsored in the House on Thursday night, State Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, explained that he placed the highest importance not just on his legislation, but on stopping abortions.

“I would say if we can save human lives, that is an emergency I would even put it in front of the budget,” he said.

The budget is the only piece of legislation members of the House and Senate are constitutionally required to pass.

State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston was markedly more moderate defending his piece of pre-abortion sonogram legislation in the state Senate.

“My goal has never been to force a woman to view the sonogram or hear the heartbeat if she chose not to,” he explained at the time.

Seven border Democrats voted in favor of the legislation, Monday, including State Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-Tornillo, who co-authored the legislation. He explained his reasoning which is antithetical to the governor’s.

“I am a pro-life person, but when a person decides after they see all the pictures and everything else, it’s their choice and their conscience,” Quintanilla said on Thursday. Quintanilla also echoed a point of view shared by many of his fellow border Democrats: “I do believe my constituents are pro-life.”  That alone made the decision easy for some.