A new law in Texas restricting abortions has been ruled unconstitutional in federal courts. The controversial law gained national headlines earlier this year after democratic state senator Wendy Davis made an unsuccessful attempt to filibuster the law. If enacted, the law would have forced several abortion clinics to shut down, and would have negatively affected the health services of several thousand women. In response to this federal ruling, Texas’s Attorney General has requested that the federal appeals court reestablish the abortion restrictions.

I’m a bit surprised they banned the restrictions in the first place. Federal courts have upheld abortion restrictions in the past and this seems like an issue that should fall under states’ rights. Although I’m on the prochoice side of the abortion argument, I feel like this is an overreach of federal power. This is an issue of state policy that only affects businesses in the state and the healthcare of members of the state. This ruling falls in line with a long history of shifting power from states to the federal government. And in this case Texas cannot even operate its own healthcare policies anymore. Although the restrictions were unfair and damaging to many women in the state, that does not make it a national issue. If Texas wants to make harmful laws then so be it and it’s up to Texans to change and fix their mistakes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/29/us-usa-abortion-texas-idUSBRE99S0ZF20131029