Initially I wanted to stay on my beat (or at least beat adjacent) but on Monday I changed my mind. Instead of writing about the demand for programmers and developers across all corporate spectrums I would like to write or perhaps podcast about the tumultuous tug of war going on in Texas over reproductive rights.
President-elect Trump has hinted that he would appoint conservative supreme court justices that could potentially overturn Roe vs. Wade. However, efforts to restrict reproductive rights in Texas has been underway for years with substantial success. The landmark decision legalizing abortion began in Texas and some would like to see the process of overturning it begin here as well.
Passing and Overturn of HB2. – (Christian group involvement?)
The latest blow to reproductive rights came on Monday when The Texas Health and Human Services Commission passed a new law requiring women to bury or cremate the fetal tissue of aborted or miscarried fetuses. This imposes more restrictions and places an increased burden on abortion facilities but more importantly the women seeking this procedure.
The law goes into effect on Dec. 19th. What are abortion facilities in Austin doing to prepare? How have they bounced back from the financial burden of the overturned HB2? Are there programs in place to help people get to Austin for these procedures from places where clinics that were forced to close after HB2 have yet to reopen?
Sources:
Planned Parenthood
Austin Women’s Health Center
Whole Woman’s Health
Undue Burden Standard. It’s been 43 years since Roe vs. Wade passed. For some it feels like we are moving backward and for others it feels like Texas is taking steps to right a wrong.
Coalition for Life is dedicated to ending abortion in Central Texas. (Are they a religious organization? If so what are the implications of the nature of their cause? Limitations? Does there crusade infringe on the constitutional mandate separating Church and State?)
Sources: Coalition for Life
*I’d also like to find a lawyer or someone who specializes in constitutional law to ask these questions—not confident I could get someone connected to the actual case but maybe even a law student at UT or a pre-law student at St. Ed’s or a professor??
What a difference 50 years makes. Déjà vu? What do Texas women think about the current climate of reproductive rights in their state? What is the point of a federal mandate if it can just be repeatedly challenged and repealed at the state level?
Sources: TBD (Students, professors, anyone willing to give an opinion…)
December 1, 2016 at 7:28 pm
I think this is a really great idea for a story. I would love to read this. I hope you can find the right people to interview for this. Using the broader story of President-elect Trump taking action to appoint Supreme Court justices who will limit women’s reproductive rights and kind of narrowing that down to Texas and then, specifically, to Texas policy is brilliant. This could be a really hard-hitting story.
Lauren, any suggestions, specifically, about where Hailey might look for the right people to interview? Would be good to see more specific suggestions in this critique. JH
December 1, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Good story idea. You will need to be sure you are balanced. In other words, clearly represent the view of those who do not support legal abortion and those who do. You have a lot of reporting to do, but you also have a good list of sources. Be sure to interview women who have had abortions (advocacy groups should be able/willing to set this up and, yes, you can use first or middle name only). JH