Welcome to the third installment in this series on anti-choice politics in 2013. The northeastern states haven’t had as much success in passing most of the proposed anti-abortion legislation this session, though not for lack of trying. Highlights include the loss of the entire Women’s Equality Act in New York, a stalled bill that would require crisis pregnancy centers to tell the truth about their services, and Gov. Chris Christie’s refusal to include additional funds for family planning in the New Jersey state budget.
Let’s see what’s happening in your state!
Maine:
- Failed: A bill that would require physicians to discuss abortion alternatives with their patients, even if the patient does not ask to do so. It would also require they provide “scientifically accurate information” about the fetus – but who would decide what’s scientifically accurate?
- Failed: A bill that would require written parental consent before a minor’s abortion.
Why is this a problem?
The first bill is simply more government interference in the medical process and the doctor-patient relationship.
The second bill is government interference in parent-child relationships. A teenager who’s comfortable telling their parents and asking for support will do so – a teenager who won’t probably has good reason not to. Even if a parent isn’t abusive, and the child doesn’t risk being verbally, physically or sexually assaulted, or kicked out of the house, legally mandating a minor to tell their parents they are having sex is wrong and invasive. Teenagers deserve privacy just as much as grown adults. If parents want to know these things, it’s their responsibility to create a safe and comfortable environment for their kids.
Massachusetts:
- The Supreme Court will hear a case challenging a “buffer zone” law that bans demonstrations within 35 feet of abortion clinics.
Why is this a problem?
Anti-abortion harassment outside of clinics, referred to as “sidewalk counseling” by activists, is a common tactic to dissuade patients from their choice or frighten them away from the clinic. A simple search on Youtube will turn up videos of patients walking through a gauntlet of screaming, sign-waving protestors, eager to shove graphic pamphlets into your hands and steer you toward a crisis pregnancy center instead. Alternately, you can find groups of protestors kneeling in silent prayer outside clinics – a disturbing sight for patients attempting to exercise their legal right to a safe abortion. Before the passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in 1994, protestors would physically block entrances, assault patients and clinic staff, lie in front of patients’ cars, and threaten patients and staff.
New Hampshire:
- Failed: A 24-hour waiting period and state-mandated counseling.
New Jersey:
- Failed: The inclusion in the budget of additional funding for family planning services. Every dollar invested in the Title X Family Planning Program saves Medicaid over $3.
New York:
- Failed: The Women’s Equality Act in its entirety, part of which would have expanded access to late abortions in the case of danger to the life of the fetus or pregnant person, and allowed any physician to perform abortions. Other parts of the bill would have improved female employees’ rights in cases of sexual harassment and job discrimination and barred landlords from discriminating against victims of domestic violence.
- Stalled/Failed: Multiple bills banning sex-selective abortion, mandating “informed consent” procedures, and requiring parental consent or notification.
- Stalled/Failed: A bill that would require crisis pregnancy centers to disclose they do not provide abortion or birth control services, are not licensed medical facilities, and that their pregnancy tests are no different than those purchased over the counter.
Why is this a problem?
I’ve written before about crisis pregnancy centers, which often disguise themselves as abortion clinics. In addition to the physical façade, they use deliberately vague or misleading language in their ads to trick people into entering their building instead of a legitimate abortion clinic. Once you’re inside, they will do whatever it takes to prevent you from getting an abortion, whether it’s lying about the risks or physically preventing you from leaving.
Pennsylvania:
- Passed: Insurance policies under the new health exchange may only cover abortion in cases of rape and incest, or to save the life of the pregnant person.
- In progress: A bill distributing funding for women’s service programs to crisis pregnancy centers.
Rhode Island:
- In progress: A bill banning a later abortion procedure known as intact dilation and extraction (IDX), better known by its political moniker, “partial-birth abortion.” There are no exceptions for fetal abnormalities.
- In progress: A bill requiring an ultrasound to be performed before an abortion in order for the patient to watch.
- In progress: A bill making special “Choose Life” license plates available for sale, with half the proceeds going to religious anti-abortion organizations. Twenty-nine states offer similar plates.
Why is this a problem?
Intact dilation and extraction has been demonized as one of the cruelest methods of abortion, and it is difficult to read the details of the procedure (much less write about them). It is done later in the pregnancy, overwhelmingly in the case of severe fetal abnormalities, and involves delivering the fetus deceased and intact to allow the parents to hold their child, baptize it, and arrange memorial services. When later abortions are performed, it is often in the case of a pregnancy that was very much wanted, but impossible to carry to term. By banning this procedure, we are left with procedures that do not leave the fetus intact, or force people to either carry the dying fetus to term or deliver early.
Vermont:
- Passed: A resolution supporting a woman’s right to decide her own reproductive choices and commemorating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Bless your hearts, Vermont Democrats.
Washington, D.C.:
- Failed: A bill that would ban abortions at 20 weeks, citing the medically unsound theory of fetal pain at that gestational age. The ban has now been taken up by the federal legislature.
You may have noticed that Delaware and Connecticut are not on this list. The Delaware legislature did pass a bill that would allow employees, not just patients, to file complaints against abortion clinics. While there have been instances of employees going rogue, it remains to be seen whether this law will be abused. Connecticut hasn’t filed any anti-abortion legislation. You go, Connecticut CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
Tomorrow: The Midwest!
