Senators scheduled a vote on a pivotal abortion bill Friday afternoon, one day after a Senate committee gave its approval on a partisan 6-3 vote. It comes two days after a divided and emotionally charged House finally passed the legislation.
Gov. Rick Perry, who called the special session to tackle the issue, is expected to have it on his desk by the weekend.
To mark the importance of the coming vote, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and several lawmakers held a
Capitol news conference Thursday. Among those showing support for the legislation was former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Dewhurst emphasized that he will not allow a replay of what happened in a special session in June. Loud protesters in the Senate gallery drowned out a final vote on an abortion bill just as the clock ran out on the 30-day session.
