Pink shoes and a back brace were essentials during Wendy Davis' 11-hour filibuster of a contentious abortion bill in the Texas Senate this week. But those weren't the only accessories the politician used in her attempt to thwart passage of a law that critics claimed would shut down most of the state's abortion clinics.
Davis, 50, also reportedly wore a catheter to ensure that she wouldn't need to go to the restroom during her marathon performance. Considering that extreme circumstances call for over-the-top measures, the purported revelation makes logistical sense.
State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Ft. Worth) stands after the Democrats defeated the anti-abortion bill SB5, which was up for a vote on the last day of the legislative special session June 25, 2013 in Austin, Texas. A combination of Sen. Davis' 13-hour filibuster and protests by reproductive rights advocates helped to ultimately defeat the controversial abortion legislation at midnight. Credit: Getty Images
The new tidbit of information comes from Joel Burns, a politician who succeeded Davis on the Fort Worth City Council after she moved on to the state senate. In the wake of the filibuster, he shared that Davis wore the catheter, but that she declined an IV drip, which would have provided nourishment, the Star-Telegram reports.
"Burns, who watched the entire episode, disclosed that Davis was equipped with a catheter, but nixed an offer of a continuous IV drip," the outlet reports.
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Rules apparently don't allow those who are filibustering to eat or drink on the floor and Burns, according to the Star-Telegram, said that Davis faced even stricter rules, as she reportedly wasn't allowed to have hard candy or ice chips (elements that are generally allowed).
So, between the shoes, the back brace and the catheter, it seems Davis was able to be sustained throughout the escapade. Perhaps she avoided the IV drip due to appearances (after all, it would have looked quite odd). Regardless of where one stands on her policy views, it's an intriguing -- and wild -- story.
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(H/T: Daily Mail)
