Special Session 2.0: Wendy Davis Responds

Sen. Wendy Davis: "If leaders are serious about using this second called special session to improve the lives of Texans by repairing and expanding our transportation networks, they will find no greater ally than me." (Photo by Jana Birchum)

Yesterday, Sen. Wendy Davis was a Fort Worth Democrat with a low national profile. One 13 hour filibuster later, she's the go-to Dem for a response to Gov. Rick Perry's latest announcement.

Late this afternoon, Perry declared that he will be calling the Legislature back for a second attempt to inflict a backdoor ban on abortions in Texas. That it also means a catastrophic impact on health care in Texas matters little to the 'pro-life' forces.

Now Davis has become the most public face of Texas Democrats (followed quickly by her closest supporters in the filibuster affort: Senators Kirk Watson, Judith Zaffirini, and Leticia Van de Putte.) She is booked to appear tonight to talk to Anderson Cooper at 8pm on AC360, but she took time from that (and, you know, standing up for 13 hours straight without even a bathroom break) to reply to Perry's call.

Misplaced priorities of legislative leaders squandered a tremendous opportunity to make much needed improvements in our transportation infrastructure and help create good jobs and bring businesses to Texas. Despite urging by responsible members of the Senate to bring up the matter of transportation, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst derailed as much as much as $1 billion per year in transportation funding by stubbornly pushing divisive, failed legislation attacking women's health care options.

If leaders are serious about using this second called special session to improve the lives of Texans by repairing and expanding our transportation networks, they will find no greater ally than me. If they intend to keep pushing their extreme personal political agenda ahead of the interests of Texas families, I will not back off of my duty to fight on their behalf.

The special session starts on July 1 at 2pm.