Texas lawmakers ditch discussion on controversial bill that would make abortion murder

DiscussiononlegislationthatwouldapplythesamepenaltiesforabortioninTexasashomicidewasremovedfromtheTexasHouseCriminalJurisprudenceCommitteecalendarforTuesday,likelyendinganychanceoftheproposalpassingthissession. Rep.BrentMoney,aGreenvilleRepublican,isthebill’ssponsor.OnTuesday,hisofficetoldTheTexasNewsroomhewassurprisedbythemoveandbelievedthemeasure,HouseBill2197,wasatoppriorityforRepublicans. Inrecentsessions,TexasGOPlawmakershavesuccessfullypassedstrictprohibitionsaroundabortion,givingTexassomeoneofthecountry’sstrongestbansaroundtheprocedure.Itiscurrentlyonlyallowedwhena“majorbodilyfunction”oramother’slifeisatrisk—exemptionsTexaslawmakersareseekingtoclarifythisyear. ButHB2197sawrecentpushbackfromeventhestate’sstrongestsupportersofabortionrestrictions.TexasAllianceforLife—whichdescribesitselfasa“pro-lifeorganizationwhosegoalsaretoprotectinnocenthumanlifefromconceptionthroughnaturaldeath�