Texas Gov. Rick Perry cited Joan Rivers’ death as reason for tighter abortion laws.
Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sunday, the Republican one-time presidential candidate said, “it’s a curious thought” whether the comedian would still be alive had there been tighter regulations at the New York outpatient surgery center where she went into cardiac arrest earlier this month, according to KTXS.
Perry mentioned Rivers’ death when defending a strong anti-abortion law he signed into affect last year in Texas.
Rivers, 81 who was undergoing a routine procedure, later died.
During his speech, 2016 also came up: Perry, who said he hasn’t decided on whether he’ll run for president, said he’s instead focusing on his final days as Texas governor.
A RealClearPolitcs average of polls has Perry sixth in the GOP presidential nomination field.
