US senator's 10 hour speech to block abortion bill
A US state senator has spent 10 hours speaking in a procedural tactic known as a filibuster to try and block a bill that could close almost all the abortion clinics in Texas.
If the bill was passed into law it would also ban abortions carried out after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
In an effort to block the bill Senator Wendy Davis had to stay on topic and remain standing for 13 hours. She was also was unable to take any breaks.
The Democrat's speech was cut short when the chairman ruled she had gone off topic. However the bill was unable to be passed as it missed its midnight deadline.
26 Jun 2013
- From the section US & Canada