States continue targeting abortion clinics, funds

by Tom Strode                                                                                                       Vol. XXIV, No. 7, August 2011

States are continuing their efforts to rein in the liberal abortion regime that has ruled the country for nearly 40 years.

This year's legislative sessions have seen numerous states approve measures designed to protect unborn children, especially in the last half of pregnancy; bring accountability to abortion providers; and protect citizens from having to fund abortions with their taxes.

In some of the most recent actions, according to reports by news media and pro-life organizations:

-- The Minnesota Senate passed May 16 both a ban on abortions after 20 weeks' gestation based on scientific evidence a baby in the womb experiences pain by that point and a prohibition on state funding of elective abortions. The House of Representatives already has approved both bills.

Idaho, Kansas and Oklahoma already this year have enacted laws prohibiting pain-capable abortions. Last year, Nebraska became the first state to adopt such a ban.

-- The Missouri Legislature forwarded May 12 to Gov. Jay Nixon a bill that would bar abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy unless the unborn child is not considered viable. Both houses passed the ban with veto-proof majorities.

-- The Pennsylvania House approved in a 148-43 roll call May 11 a bill that would institute stronger restrictions on abortion clinics. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law May 16 a measure tightening requirements for abortion clinics.

The legislative action came in the wake of the murder charges brought in January against abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell in the deaths of a 41-year-old patient and seven fully delivered babies whose spinal cords were severed with scissors at his clinic in West Philadelphia. A raid of the Women's Medical Society, Gosnell's clinic, found it in horrifying condition, with the remains of 45 infants stored in bags, milk jugs, orange juice cartons and cat-food containers, according to a grand jury report. The clinic was shut down.

-- Kansas and Nebraska both completed legislative work the week of May 8-14 on bills to bar private insurance plans from covering abortion without a separate rider paid for by the individual and to enable the states to opt out of abortion coverage in the health exchanges established by last year's health-care reform law. Both measures are going to pro-life governors who are expected to sign them.

In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry signed into law May 17 legislation authorizing the production of Choose Life auto license plates. Funds from sale of the plates will help support pregnancy help centers.

Pro-lifers met defeat May 12 on a proposal in Montana. Gov. Brian Schweitzer vetoed legislation requiring a girl under the age of 18 to notify her parents before having an abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued companion opinions legalizing abortion in 1973, thereby establishing a regime that permitted the procedure for effectively any reason throughout pregnancy. [BP]