As Ruling Threatens to Gut Abortion Access in Texas, Providers Vow to Take Fight to Supreme Court

"Democracy Now!" airs weekdays at 9 a.m. PT on KCET.

This week has seen a new round of restrictions on reproductive rights in the United States.

In Texas, a federal appeals court Tuesday upheld anti-choice provisions which threaten to leave Texas with just 10 or fewer abortion clinics. The ruling upholds restrictions forcing abortion facilities to meet the standards of hospital-style surgery centers and forcing providers to obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If the decision goes into effect in about 20 days, attorneys for the clinics have estimated about 900,000 reproductive-age women will live more than 150 miles from the nearest open abortion facility in the state. The clinics plan to take their appeal to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed a bill into law forcing women to wait at least 24 hours to have an abortion. And the Wisconsin State Senate has approved a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Like similar bans in other states, and a federal ban passed by the U.S. House last month, the bill is based on the medically debunked claim fetuses can feel pain after 20 weeks. "Democracy Now!" is joined by Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL-Pro Choice Texas.