Roundup: Tennesee Senate Says State Constitution Doesn’t Protection Right to Abortion

Montana, Tennessee consider abortion restrictions; Cecile Richards talks to David Brody; Dr. George Tiller testifies; post-Roe women fight for their rights.

Montana Legislature Considers Abortion Restriction
The Montana legislature is considering a "TRAP" law (that stands for "targeted regulation of abortion providers"), reports the Flathead Beacon.  "Sponsored by Rep. Joel Boniek, R-Livingston, House Bill 661 would force
abortion providers to undergo regular inspections in order to qualify
for a license. It would also compel the Department of Public Health and
Human Services to establish and enforce new standards for the
facilities…
‘We believe that the bill singles out one type of medical procedure and
thereby creates an undue burden on that procedure,’ said Niki Zupanic,
spokeswoman for the ACLU of Montana."

Tennessee Senate Passes Abortion Restriction
The Tennessee state constitution’s privacy protections currently
protect the right to abortion, but not if the Tennessee legislature has
its way.  The state Senate passed a law saying that nothing in Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to
abortion or requires the funding of an abortion; states that the people
retain the right through their elected state representatives and state
senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion,
including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting
from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother,” as Liberadio! reports.  Rachel Walden at Women’s Health News points out, "Supporters keep insisting that the bill does not make abortion illegal,
while not addressing the fact that if this ultimately succeeds (there
are several more steps for this Constitutional amendment), it makes
room for the numerous restrictions often supported by anti-choice folks
– such as waiting periods, forced ultrasounds, required ‘informed
consent’ scripts that are not medically accurate, and so on. It also
makes room for an abortion ban in the event that national protections
vanish."

Cecile Richards Talks to David Brody
Clips from David Brody’s interview with Cecile Richards — they
take on reproductive health care access, women’s health in health care
reform, and common ground — are on the CBN website.  Brody’s full segment airs today, and we’ll have more on the story soon.

Dr. Tiller Testifies in Court Case
The Kansas City Star covers Dr. George Tiller’s testimony in the court case brought against him: "Dr. George Tiller,
one of the nation’s few late-term
abortion providers, is accused of breaking a state law requiring that
an independent Kansas physician sign off on any late-term procedure…Tiller went on trial Monday on 19 misdemeanor charges stemming from
abortions he performed at his Wichita clinic in 2003. Kansas law allows
abortions after a fetus can survive outside the womb only if two
independent doctors agree that it is necessary to save a women’s life
or prevent ‘substantial and irreversible’ harm to ‘a major bodily
function,’ a phrase that’s been interpreted to include mental health."

Post-Roe Women Fight for Rights
Feministing has been running a terrific series on post-Roe women working for reproductive justice and abortion access — check it out here.

Other News to Note
March 25: Nashville Scene: Rep. Tony Shipley Launches New Crusade Against Family Planning

March: Marie Claire: Morning-after pill sold online

March 25: News Sentinel: Abortion is not the issue here – safety is Woman’s ordeal shows need for law

March 24: KSLTV: A.G. turns down financial help for abortion fight

March 24: AP: Bishop boycotting over GOP chief’s ‘choice’ remark

March 24: KSPR: Abortion bill ties up Missouri. Senate

March 26: Florida Baptist Witness: House panel clears abortion
ultrasound bill: Last year’s Senate bill was rejected in dramatic 20-20 tie

March 25: Christianity Today: Conservatives Talk Abortion Reduction with White House

March 25: AP: Vatican official criticizes US bishops on abortion

March 24: Life News: Pro-Life Groups Upset Judge Forces FDA to Allow Morning After Pill Sales to Minors

March 25: Dallas Morning News:Order barring HHS nominee from taking Communion likely to carry over to D.C.

March 24: Nursing Times.net: Does access to contraception raise teenage pregnancy rates?