It's official: Rick Perry signs ban on late-term abortion into law

Via Reuters:

Texas Governor Rick Perry on Thursday signed into law tough new restrictions on abortion, including a ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, marking one of the biggest victories in a decade for opponents of abortion in the United States.

Perry, a Republican, signed the measure flanked by invited political supporters and anti-abortion activists, who gave him a standing ovation as he entered the room.

"It is a very happy and celebratory day," said Perry, who thanked anti-abortion activists for helping to "support the health of Texas women."

The ban on late-term abortions may now be the law of the land in Texas, but abortion advocates aren't giving up their fight.  The Wall Street Journal reports that the pro-choicers are weighing all their options:

"Whether they do it through court or through the law, this is an effort to make abortion technically unavailable," said Jennifer Dalven, director of the Reproductive Freedom Project, part of the American Civil Liberties Union. "It's part of a nationwide plan to outlaw abortion, clinic by clinic, state by state."

Ms. Dalven said her organization was looking at litigation "very seriously," noting the ACLU has filed such lawsuits in Wisconsin and Alabama.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America said it believed provisions of the bill are unconstitutional and it also was evaluating legal options.

And what about Wendy Davis, the outspoken Democrat who tried to filibuster the bill in the state senate?

(Image: AP)

She's been raking in the dough from liberals across the country and now rubbing shoulders with Washington's elite.  ABC News reports that Davis will be in the nation's capital next week:

ABC obtained an invitation for a happy hour fundraiser with Davis in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 25. The event is being held by the Wendy Davis campaign at the U. St. restaurant Local 16, and tickets range from $25 to $250.

The Huffington Post reported on another fundraiser that Davis will attend with several Democratic U.S. senators, including Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.  The fundraiser breakfast will be held at D.C.’s Johnny’s Half Shell with tickets going for $500.

Davis’ campaign released a statement earlier this week detailing the $933,000 of donations the state senator has already received from over 15,000 individual contributions between June 17 and June 30.