Changes

Senator Windhorst worked to restrict access to [[abortion]] in his state. On June 27, 1990, near the end of his Senate tenure, the Louisiana State Legislature penned the strongest pro-life law in the nation, sponsored by Democratic Senator [[Mike Cross (Louisiana politician)|Mike Cross]] of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish. Because it provided no exceptions for impregnations stemming from [[rape]] and [[incest]], the measure was vetoed by [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], a Democrat, who switched parties the following year. The state House overrode Roemer’s veto, but the state Senate fell three votes short of the required two-thirds majority to enact the measure over Roemer’s objection.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-08/news/mn-327_1_abortions-override-bill|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|title=Abortion Bill Veto Override in Louisiana Fails|author=Garry Boulard|date=July 8, 1990|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref>  

Senator Windhorst worked to restrict access to [[abortion]] in his state. On June 27, 1990, near the end of his Senate tenure, the Louisiana State Legislature penned the strongest pro-life law in the nation, sponsored by Democratic Senator [[Mike Cross (Louisiana politician)|Mike Cross]] of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish. Because it provided no exceptions for impregnations stemming from [[rape]] and [[incest]], the measure was vetoed by [[Governor]] [[Buddy Roemer]], a Democrat, who switched parties the following year. The state House overrode Roemer’s veto, but the state Senate fell three votes short of the required two-thirds majority to enact the measure over Roemer’s objection.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1990-07-08/news/mn-327_1_abortions-override-bill|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|title=Abortion Bill Veto Override in Louisiana Fails|author=Garry Boulard|date=July 8, 1990|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref>  

Windhorst said that the bill was an outgrowth of the failure of the [[United States Supreme Court]] to clarify regulations by the states on abortion: "We are here today because the U.S. Supreme Court did not have the courage or the resolve to be decisive."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/27/us/louisiana-lawmakers-adopt-toughest-anti-abortion-law-in-us.html |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'''|title=Louisiana Lawmakers Adopt Toughest Anti-Abortion Law in U.S | author=Roberto Sur |date=June 27, 1990 | accessdate=May 3, 2010}}</ref> The Louisiana bill included an 1855 law that made abortion a [[felony]] punishable by imprisonment; the sole exception permitted was to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.<ref name=nyt/>

Windhorst said that the bill was an outgrowth of the failure of the [[United States Supreme Court]] to clarify regulations by the states on abortion: "We are here today because the U.S. Supreme Court did not have the courage or the resolve to be decisive."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/27/us/louisiana-lawmakers-adopt-toughest-anti-abortion-law-in-us.html |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'''|title=Louisiana Lawmakers Adopt Toughest Anti-Abortion Law in U.S | author=Roberto Sur|date=June 27, 1990|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref> The Louisiana bill included an 1855 law that made abortion a [[felony]] punishable by imprisonment; the sole exception permitted was to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.<ref name=nyt/>

Windhorst also voted with economic conservatives in the Senate. In a special session in 1988, he joined his colleagues in giving newly elected Governor Roemer the power to slash as much as 20 percent from department budgets, abolish or suspend certain programs, and to close institutions if necessary to keep the state financially solvent. Windhorst said that the powers transferred to Roemer were necessary: "It is either this or a much greater evil.  If we don't like what he does, we can undo it during the regular session."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/us/louisiana-governor-given-broad-power-to-curb-the-budget.html |publisher=''The New York Times''|title=Louisiana Governor Given Broad Power To Curb the Budget|date=March 27, 1988|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref>

Windhorst also voted with economic conservatives in the Senate. In a special session in 1988, he joined his colleagues in giving newly elected Governor Roemer the power to slash as much as 20 percent from department budgets, abolish or suspend certain programs, and to close institutions if necessary to keep the state financially solvent. Windhorst said that the powers transferred to Roemer were necessary: "It is either this or a much greater evil.  If we don't like what he does, we can undo it during the regular session."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/27/us/louisiana-governor-given-broad-power-to-curb-the-budget.html |publisher=''The New York Times''|title=Louisiana Governor Given Broad Power To Curb the Budget|date=March 27, 1988|accessdate=November 22, 2020}}</ref>