AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ health department has appointed an outspoken anti-abortion OB-GYN to a committee that reviews pregnancy-related deaths as doctors have been warning that the state’s restrictive abortion ban puts women’s lives at risk.

Dr. Ingrid Skop was among the new appointees to the Texas Maternal Morality and Morbidity Review Committee announced last week by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Her term starts June 1.

The committee, which compiles data on pregnancy-related deaths, makes recommendations to the Legislature on best practices and policy changes and is expected to assess the impact of abortion laws on maternal mortality.

Skop, who has worked as an OB-GYN for over three decades, is vice president and director of medical affairs for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion research group. Skop will be the committee’s rural representative.

Skop, who has worked in San Antonio for most of her career, told the Houston Chronicle that she has “often cared for women traveling long distances from rural Texas maternity deserts, including women suffering complications from abortions.”

Texas has one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S., and doctors have sought clarity on the state’s medical exemption, which allows an abortion to save a woman’s life or prevent the impairment of a major bodily function. Doctors have said the exemption is too vague, making it difficult to offer life-saving care for fear of repercussions. A doctor convicted of providing an illegal abortion in Texas can face up to 99 years in prison and a $100,000 fine and lose their medical license.

Skop has said medical associations are not giving doctors the proper guidance on the matter. She has also shared more controversial views, saying during a congressional hearing in 2021 that rape or incest victims as young as 9 or 10 could carry pregnancies to term.

Texas’ abortion ban has no exemption for cases of rape or incest.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which says abortion is “inherently tied to maternal health,” said in a statement that members of the Texas committee should be “unbiased, free of conflicts of interest and focused on the appropriate standards of care.” The organization noted that bias against abortion has already led to “compromised” analyses, citing a research articles co-authored by Skop and others affiliated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

Earlier this year a medical journal retracted studies supported by the Charlotte Lozier Institute claiming to show harms of the abortion pill mifepristone, citing conflicts of interests by the authors and flaws in their research. Two of the studies were cited in a pivotal Texas court ruling that has threatened access to the drug.

Long before she was elected to serve as the District 1 Trustee, Candace Hunter understood the ins and outs of the school board. The former Austin ISD teacher has spent a lot of time trying to help other people understand it too.

By Becky Fogel, KUT NewsMay 22, 2024 10:00 amEducation, KUT, Texas Newsroom

AUSTIN, Texas — The Republican runoff race in House District 21 has statewide implications as incumbent Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is challenged by political newcomer David Covey.

Former Gov. Rick Perry made the case for Phelan at a campaign event Monday night in Beaumont. Across town, Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller did the same for Covey.

Covey has secured endorsements from former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who all want to see Phelan ousted.

For the next week, Phelan and Covey are trying to get as many of their supporters to the polls.

“This might be the future of the Republican Party. Is the Texas House going to be the Texas House, or is the Texas House going to be a holy home subsidiary of the Texas Senate? I can’t allow that to happen. We have to have two independent chambers that can run and function as grown men and grown women,” said Phelan.

Perry is one of Phelan’s only state level endorsers.

“You know what happens if you got a freshman member of the legislature? He’s not even a speed bump,” said Perry.

Both questioned what Covey could do as a freshman lawmaker for the district that Phelan couldn’t do.

“I reduced tuition by 50% for our three two-year colleges, Lamar Orange, Lamar Porter Arthur and LIT. That has to be in the budget next cycle, or guess what? It goes up 50%,” said Phelan.

Meanwhile, Covey spoke with his supporters who say they want someone who represents their party’s values.

“We’re a conservative district, but he gave power to the Democrats and enabled them to pass their legislation,” said Covey.

Covey and many GOP leaders, who want to see Phelan ousted, blame him for the failure of the school voucher bill, which would allow public dollars to be used for private schools.

“We have to empower parents to make the best decision for their kids that they can. And so the speaker came to that vote, and he abstained from voting, so why would he abstain when the kids of Texas are at stake,” said Covey.

Experts suggest this runoff race isn’t about changing minds.

“I think a lot of what the race will come down to is whether people have positive images of things Phelan has done in office in terms of disaster relief and other issues, verses whether they think he’s gone far enough on some causes that are near and dear to cultural conservatives.,” James Nelson, a Lamar University professor of political science, said.

Phelan’s supporters come mainly from Beaumont and Jefferson County.

“I’m concerned at how Republicans are attacking one of their own people in Dade Phelan,” said Andy Jirrels, a Beaumont resident.

Covey’s support comes from his home in Orange County.

“As speaker of the House, you’re invested in the whole state and all the districts all over. You’ve got to juggle a lot of things. I think it’s time we have somebody that’s going to be fully invested in House District 21,” Brian Elliott, an Orange County resident, said.

Jasper County is the third county that makes up House District 21.

Experts suggest the rural makeup could drive more conservative voters seeking a change in leadership to the polls. There is no Democratic candidate, so whoever wins this race will be the presumed representative for this area.