Associated Press Interview: Bell Says He Would Veto "Trigger Law" On Abortion

Associated Press Interview: Bell Says He Would Veto "Trigger Law" On Abortion

Democratic candidate for governor Chris Bell said Friday he would veto proposed attempts to preemptively outlaw abortion in Texas in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision.

A Houston-area candidate for state Senate has promised to propose a so-called trigger law during the next legislative session.

"I would veto that," Bell told The Associated Press on Friday. "I think the majority of Texans are still pro-choice. I don't think they're pro-abortion, but they understand that there are instances where that very painful choice is going to have to be made."

Bell is facing Republican Gov. Rick Perry and independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Abortion rights advocates should help "find ways to make it as rare as possible," Bell said. "But to make it illegal, that's not the road to go down."

A handful of states already have adopted a trigger law. GOP Senate hopeful and Houston radio talk show host Dan Patrick, who has promised to file the legislation, said he expects the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion.

"It will be up to the states then to make a decision," Patrick said recently on his popular Houston radio talk show. "It could take years to work through that political firestorm. I want to have a law on the books as soon as the Supreme Court acts."

Friedman also would veto such legislation, spokeswoman Laura Stromberg said.

"Kinky is very much pro-choice," she said. "He believes in a woman's right to choose and would most certainly veto a bill like that."

A spokesman for Perry's campaign said the governor supports any efforts to "preserve the sanctity of life."

"It's hard to comment on a specific bill that hasn't even been written," said spokesman Robert Black. "The governor would certainly want to see the bill."

Perry and Strayhorn oppose abortion except in the instances of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.

On other issues, Bell wants to give all Texas teachers a $4,000 pay raise to bring them up to the national average. He would fund the salary hike by increasing the rate of the state's new business tax, though he wouldn't specify by how much.
I think the majority of Texans are still pro-choice. I don't think they're pro-abortion, but they understand that there are instances where that very painful choice is going to have to be made."

Bell does not favor increasing the state's sales tax, which was batted around during recent legislative attempts to overhaul the state's tax structure. Bell would be open to proposals to expand gambling to help pay for public education and other programs.

For months, Bell has campaigned on lessening the state's dependence on high-stakes testing in schools. While a test like the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills is required for schools to get federal money, Bell proposes that the test not be used to rank schools and promote students to the next grade.

Despite the crowded ballot and his struggles with name recognition, Bell is optimistic about his chances in November.

"I'm the Democratic nominee and I really do think that in a state the size of Texas, that it's almost impossible to mount a truly competitive effort without being the nominee of one of the major parties," Bell said.

Public fascination with the independent candidacies of Strayhorn and Friedman is "beginning to run its course," he said.

He believes the "anybody-but-Perry" bloc of voters will eventually consolidate behind his campaign rather than splitting up among the three alternatives.

"Obviously, we have to build on that," he said. "I have to continue to become better known."

http://www.chrisbell.com/newsroom/090106_ap