Why anti-abortion advocates think the Texas ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill can survive a court challenge | Austin American Statesman

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By: Madlin Mekelburg

“That so-called blue wave came into Texas, and it crashed on the rocks and went nowhere,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group. “I think Republicans and pro-life Democrats understand that they will be rewarded at the polls in 2022 if they vote pro-life. So they can express their convictions by supporting these laws.”

But unlike Seago and Texas Right to Life, Pojman said his organization only backs bills that it believes will survive a federal court challenge.

“Some of the other bills, we’re not confident they’re surviving that,” he said. “We need to wait for the Supreme Court to change the terrible Roe v. Wade precedent to allow bills like that to go into effect.”

Texas advocacy groups sound off as Senate approves anti-abortion bills | CBS Austin

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By: Gabriela Vidal

AUSTIN, Texas — Six pieces of anti-abortion legislation in Texas has officially crossed a major hurdle in the path to becoming law.

“I think a compassionate society, really wants to protect both the mother and the unborn child, and I think the Texas Senate has done that today,” said Joe Pojman.

Pojman is the Executive Director of the Texas Alliance for Life, a statewide pro-life non-profit organization advocating for anti-abortion measures like the ones passed by senate leaders on Tuesday.

“Our society is better than abortion,” said Pojman.

While Texas House leaders must still vote on these bills before reaching Governor Greg Abbott’s desk, a number of pro-choice organizations are already sounding off. Concerns particularly center around SB-8, the bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which could mean as early as six weeks following conception.

In a press release, Avow Texas, a pro-choice advocacy non-profit said in part:

Let’s be clear, SB 8 is the most dangerous six-week abortion ban this country has seen. Not only is this bill a complete ban on abortion, but it also is a backdoor attempt to intimidate and harass doctors and patients by creating a way for frivolous and harassing civil lawsuits to be filed. That means any person or any organization with an anti-abortion agenda could sue a patient, doctor, or advocacy organization under this bill.

The legislation does not have exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Only women with life threatening medical conditions could get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Pojman says supports the legislation as it is written.

“Rape is an absolutely terrible thing, but the unborn child is an innocent victim and that child should not have to pay the price for the father,” said Pojman.

Pro Life Legislation: 3 Critical Bills Pass In The Texas Senate | KPRC 950 iHeartRadio

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By: B.D. Hobbs

they also passed SB 9, which is a ‘trigger bill’, which would basically most abortions in Texas -if- the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade, which some say could happen either during this session, or next.

Dr. Joe Pojman of the Texas Alliance For Life also told KTRH it truly was a historic day for Texas. “We have not seen a day like this to my memory, and I have been working in the Texas legislature on the life issue for more than 3 decades.”

The measures will now head to the Texas House for approval, where they are expected to pass, before moving on to Governor Greg Abbott to sign in to law.

A ‘real opportunity’ to protect lives | One News Now

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By: Charlie Butts

The state’s legislature just recently launched its 20-week biennial session with the introduction of a trigger law titled the Human Life Protection Act of 2021 that would completely ban abortion in Texas if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 precedent.

“That means if the Supreme Court takes some cases that are before them now and rules to allow states to truly protect unborn babies throughout pregnancy in a matter of months, Texas could have a complete ban on abortion,” explains Joe Pojman of the Texas Alliance for Life.

Considering the fact that the state has a recorded 60,000 abortions a year, the law could save many lives.

“Those numbers are way down from previous years, but still, we have an opportunity now to protect tens of thousands of lives every year from the tragedy of abortion,” Pojman says, noting that the mothers and the families are included in that. “This is a real opportunity to do what the pro-life movement has dreamed about for many years.”

If the nation’s high court does overturn or significantly alter Roe v. Wade, Texas would become the 11th state with a trigger law banning abortion ready to go into effect. Arkansas, which passed a trigger law two years ago, is in the process of going even a step further: declaring abortion outright illegal.