Hidalgo, Dem commissioners pass resolution in support of abortion rights

Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a nonbinding resolution calling on Congress to take immediate action to protection abortion rights, despite opposition from the court’s two Republican members. The measure was passed in response to a leaked draft opinion written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito indicating Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that guarantees the right to abortion, is likely to be overturned. The state of Texas already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. Texas also has a trigger law on the books that will go into effect banning abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The court approved the resolution on a party-line 3-2 vote with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle opposed.

Cagle, who attended the meeting virtually, said he voted against the measure at his mother’s request. County officials in Texas have little to no practical authority related to abortion, so the resolution is a political gesture with no real policy impact. Still, a dozen members of the public spoke against it. County Judge Lina Hidalgo voted in favor of the resolution and pointed to the county’s 12-week parental paid leave policy as an example of actions Harris County has taken to support families. “Twice as many Americans support Roe as oppose it. Seventy-eight percent of Texas voters believe abortion should be available in some form,” the resolution states. “Enshrining the right to choose was our mothers’ and our grandmothers’ fight, it should not now be our daughters’ fight too.”