The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services begins debate on the abortion bill this Monday at the state capitol and Republicans are preparing for anything the Democrats throw at them.
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, estimates the bill will take about two weeks to get passed and said he doesn't see Democrats using a "nuclear option" and leaving the state ahead of a final vote on the abortion bill.
"I can’t imagine that they would for this reason. All of the members have been here now six full months -- they have families at home, businesses at home -- this has been a long session. It’s hard for me to imagine they would want to go to an other state for months at a time," Patrick said.
Senate Democrats have indicated they plan to introduced a measure that would allow lawmakers to take a committee hearing on the abortion issue on the road to allow all areas of the state to weigh in on the debate, much like what happened during battle for redistricting.
