The Ballad of Betty Rizzo
An abortion story
Since 1954
In an effort to defund Planned Parenthood, state leaders have dismantled Texas’ reproductive health care safety net over the last decade. This fall, the provider reopened a clinic in a mostly rural, Republican part of the state.
Providers and advocates say the pandemic highlights the need to end bans on telemedicine and requirements like the mandatory waiting period.
Reproductive health advocates warn the decision provides a “dangerous roadmap” for other states to defund the health care provider.
Advocates warn that the attorney general’s new opinion indicates how far efforts to implement a vague new law could go.
A new report from the health inspector general says the Heidi Group, an anti-abortion group tapped to replace Planned Parenthood in state family planning programs, misused taxpayer funds, and calls for an expanded investigation of the group’s contracts.
Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of Whole Woman’s Health, won a major victory against a Texas anti-abortion law at the U.S. Supreme Court three years ago. In an interview, she talks about the recent case coming out of Louisiana and what it means for abortion rights in the U.S.
Frustrated with the Legislature, Texas city officials are taking on abortion rights through local policy measures.
Conservative Texas groups and lawmakers have cited their faith to back abortion restrictions, but polling shows that majorities across many religions actually support abortion rights.
Though Christian conservatives chalked up a few narrow victories in this year’s session, they may have run up against the limits of their legislative power.