August 20, 2014 5:03 PM

Davis rolls out plan to end statute of limitations for rape prosecutions

Annie’s List and Battleground Texas Blue Star Project House candidates across the state join in the call

As virtually all of the oxygen in Texas politics continues to be consumed by Governor Perry – first his border theatrics followed by his indictment last Friday on charges he abused his office – the race to succeed him in the Governor’s Mansion is still simmering just below the surface.

Sen. Wendy Davis on Wednesday rolled out an initiative to end the statute of limitations on sexual assault in Texas. This of course builds on the theme of the Democrat from Ft. Worth’s campaign that she is an advocate for rape victims both through her legislative work on rape kits as well as her opening attack ad on Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott.

"While the bills I authored are helping to address the backlog of rape kits, the fact that we would throw survivors' trauma and courage on a shelf for months or years without a second thought is offensive to them and to everything we say we stand for," Davis said. "But then to turn around and make survivors pay the price for our failure and neglect by denying them justice is almost criminal in itself."