State Democrats Begin Abortion Rights Effort

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AUSTIN (AP) - Democratic lawmakers and top advocacy groups are launching a policy campaign to restore "access to a full range of reproductive health care" two years after unprecedented abortion protests rocked the Texas Capitol.

There's little chance of passing legislation easing abortion restrictions in the Republican-controlled Legislature. But Democratic Reps. Mary Gonzalez, Donna Howard and Jessica Farrar are announcing Thursday plans to lay groundwork for a multi-year effort.

In 2013, a filibuster by Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis delayed proposals to impose some of the nation's toughest abortion limits.

Thousands of demonstrators for and against the restrictions rallied, but the proposals ultimately passed overwhelmingly.

Davis left the Senate for an unsuccessful gubernatorial run. Abortion rights advocates now admit that such fervor won't be easy to duplicate, but they're eying the long term.

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