By: Andrea Zelinski

Not only did the court battle cost the state millions of dollars, but it also set back the anti-abortion movement by making it harder for states to pass certain regulations for abortion facilities without running afoul of the high court’s decision, said Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life which advocates for stiffer abortion regulations.

Anti-abortion advocates had miscalculated the leanings of the Supreme Court, he said. Since then, he said his group has resisted the urge to support far-reaching anti-abortion proposals in the Legislature in favor of others they believe would survive a federal court challenge.

Pojman said anti-abortion advocates need to think long-term if they want to overturn Roe v. Wade, which established legal precedent protecting a woman’s right to an abortion. The long-time activist said he is not confident the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court is favorable to overturning Roe v. Wade — but it could be in a few years.

“We are telling our people that they need to stay focused on re-electing President Donald Trump because he has a track record of nominating justices who are possibly willing to take an honest look at Roe v. Wade,” said Pojman.

By: STAFF REPORTS

Dripping Springs’ State Senator, District 25, (Rep), Dr. Donna Campbell (at center) with her work folder for Senate Bill 22, which prohibits state and local governments from partnering with agencies that perform abortion. The bill, which was authored by Campbell, became law on Sept. 1.

In the photo she is joined by Texas Alliance for Life (TAL) Executive Director Dr. Joe Pojman (at far left) and board members and staff from the TAL. “I don’t think taxpayers’ dollars should be used for abortion facilities or their affiliates,” Campbell said.

Campbell is a past recipient of TAL’s “Courageous Defense of Life Award.”

By: Amy O'Donnell

Texas Alliance for Life is opposed to this budget amendment. “There are more than 20 wonderful agencies in the greater Austin area that help a woman who has a crisis pregnancy with alternatives to abortion, including adoption,” said Joe Pojman, Ph.D., Executive Director for Texas Alliance for Life. “We would have preferred the council spend the money to help low-income women utilize these life-affirming agencies.” A link to those resources is available here: PregnancyCentralTexas.com.

By: Andy Hogue

However, as Dr. Joe Pojman of the Texas Alliance for Life pointed out, options are plenty in the Austin area for pregnant women.

“There are more than 20 wonderful agencies in the greater Austin area that help a woman who has a crisis pregnancy with alternatives to abortion, including adoption,” Pojman said. “We would have preferred the council spend the money to help low-income women utilize these life-affirming agencies.”

A link to those resources is available here: PregnancyCentralTexas.com.

By: Steve Warren

“I’m not surprised The City of Austin would manipulate a recently passed law (SB 22) to use taxpayer dollars to pay for transportation and lodging to those seeking an abortion,” Campbell said in an email to the Texas Tribune.

Likewise, the Texas Alliance for Life is also opposed to the budget amendment.

“There are more than 20 wonderful agencies in the greater Austin area that help a woman who has a crisis pregnancy with alternatives to abortion, including adoption,” said Executive Director Joe Pojman, Ph.D. in a press release. “We would have preferred the council spend the money to help low-income women utilize these life-affirming agencies.”

A link to those resources is available at PregnancyCentralTexas.com.

By: Raven Clabough

Joe Pojman, Ph.D., the Texas Alliance for Life executive director, said the law provides an opportunity to restore dignity to the unborn child without restricting access to abortions.

“We understand that the Supreme Court prevents Texas from making abortion substantially more difficult to obtain before viability, and this law does not do that,” Pojman said. “This law merely requires that the dignity of the unborn child is recognized after abortion and that their remains are not treated as medical waste.”