County Commissioners Pass “Support For Abortion Seekers” Resolution

In a unanimous vote, El Paso County Commissioners passed a resolution to support people seeking abortion services.

Last month, El Paso City Council considered a similar measure: “deprioritizing” investigations into abortion seekers and providers. City Council ended up tied. Mayor Oscar Leeser broke the tie with a “no” vote, meaning the de-prioritization measure was NOT adopted.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Both local measures came on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court decision upending Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 ruling that set a right-to-abortion precedent that lasted almost fifty years.  After the ruling, in that case, Dobbs vs. Jackson, many states, including Texas, took steps to outlaw abortions with very few exceptions.

According to KTSM Channel 9, Commissioner David Stout introduced the item which he says will support reproductive medical services while staying within the bounds of the new state laws. Actually, OLD state laws. A “trigger law” meant that Texas reverts to the laws it had against abortion BEFORE Roe v. Wade.

The resolution has many parts but essentially boils down to “urging the El Paso County DA’s office NOT to target abortion seekers or medical providers.”   Also, to oppose any legislation that criminalizes abortion or penalizes people seeking abortions.

The Texas laws, though, focus more on abortion PROVIDERS as opposed to patients. Abortion providers could face fines of up to $100,000.

Even BEFORE Roe was overturned, Texas was embracing the idea of paying out bounties to people who would turn in people who helped someone obtain an abortion.

Before the commissioners’ vote, the story says, “members from both sides of the debate spoke during public comments”. I’m pretty sure no one convinced anyone else to change sides.