Actress Jenna Fischer of “The Office” will be watching the Texas Senate tomorrow as it votes on the abortion legislation that passed the House on Tuesday. The shorthand way to describe H.B. 2 is to say that it would ban abortions after 20 weeks, but Fischer decided to prepare by reading the bill that has so many camped in Austin to protest.
50.8% of the United States is made up of women. We will be watching you tomorrow Texas.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
I haven't told anyone what to think. I'm just encouraging everyone to pay attention. It is important. Especially for women. #beintheknow
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Consider reading the actual bill. Better to be educated than make a decision based on talking heads & news articles. http://t.co/tB4kXjG0JQ
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
… and chants. And coat hangers. And shouts of “Hail Satan!”
For real…read the bill and then stand on the side you believe in. But READ THE BILL. I support freedom and democracy. EDUCATED democracy.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Be discerning. Challenge yourself, think for yourself rather than spit out sound bites you heard on TV. Your stand will be stronger.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
I read the bill and I have a question…
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
If at the big 20wk ultrasound the baby is found to have a terminal birth defect is the mother required to carry to term?
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Does anyone know? This is a real question. I'm trying to understand the bill fully.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
About halfway down, this explains about the fatal birth defects that can only be found AFTER a 20 week ultrasound. http://t.co/ZDv4xbmE6S
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
There is so much to consider and discuss and after reading this bill I feel it is incomplete (and, frankly, sloppy) and it concerns me.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
That’s understandable, and a nice change from the attitude of having to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.
I've found a section saying that fetal abnormalities are exempt. However, it is not defined, which is a concern, but it's something.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Now reading the Texas Health Code to see their definition of "Severe Birth Abnormality" and I feel this is under-defined.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
I want to thank everyone for a thoughtful discussion of this important issue. Making this a responsible bill is a fight we can all agree on!
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
My head is spinning and I'm kinda freaked that this is going to a vote tomorrow when I feel like it's not ready. Ugh. Thanks for tweeting!
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Fischer had plenty of other questions as well and, after plenty of back and forth with followers, uncovered the truth of just about all legislation, seemingly.
https://twitter.com/johnlombo/status/355540407691644928
So, here is where I stand after reading this TX bill going to vote tomorrow…
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
While I can support creating limits to legal abortion, I find that this particular bill is irresponsibly written and creates health risks…
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Limits to legal abortion? That sounds dangerously close to “war on women” territory.
.that I simply cannot support as currently defined by this bill. It needs to be re-written and more carefully worded before becoming law.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Thank you again for your thoughtful tweets. I learned a lot tonight and examined some of my knee-jerk beliefs. You guys are great.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
Fischer continued on Friday morning, venturing into the fetal pain debate:
I did more research and found that until the thalamus is developed (around 28wks) a fetus would not feel pain. This does not mean that…
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
It's doesn't mean a life is not a life. Period. It does, however, disturb me that a bill would declare inaccurate medical information.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
This is not political for me. It is about getting educated and examination of a complicated and important issue being voted on today.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
I feel I'm being misunderstood. I'm not advocating abortion so long as the fetus doesn't feel pain. I'm saying I'm u comfortable with…
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
I'm uncomfortable with a bill that literally says the state adopts something as medically TRUE when it has not been proven as true.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
We need to make politicians work harder by asking questions and demanding accuracy. We allow them to be sloppy and lazy when we are.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
One last question, was there a problem with TX clinics providing unsafe abortions? I'm just curious why that part of the bill was raised.
— Jenna Fischer (@jennafischer) July 12, 2013
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