April 23, 2015 7:15 PM

Updated: DSHS sunset bill withdrawn after nasty and unnecessary abortion debate

Under threat of a serious point of order by Trey Martinez-Fischer, Four Price pulled down the bill to work on it some more

After hours spent debating quite divisive abortion language that was added through amendments to the Department of State Health Services sunset bill, Texas House leadership late Thursday temporarily withdrew the legislation to continue working on it.

Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San Antonio, had called a point of order that seemed to be on the brink of derailing the entire deal. But, he withdrew that and then the bill was pulled down by Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo.

Rep. Price, the bill’s author, said many issues had been discussed that could be considered on their individual merits, but he tried to stress throughout the debate that the point of the bill is to improve the operations of the DSHS.

Socially conservative lawmakers used the occasion, however, to push anti-abortion language that frustrated even some Republicans.

By Scott Braddock