Roundup: Arizona Legislation Restricting Abortions Passed

Jun 24, 2009, 11:08am

Arizona Legislation Restricting Abortions Passed; Republic of Slovakia Approves Bill That Will Inform Women of Abortion "Risks";
Sarkozy Introduced by Sarkozy Would Not Allow Burqas in Public

Arizona Legislation Restricting Abortions Passed
In a previous RHRealityChec k post,
we took note of legislation restricting abortions in Arizona which had
not yet passed. Bill 1206 would implement a 24-hour waiting period, and
would make abortions available in only three Arizona communities.

Tuesday, the Associated Press
reported the bill’s passing. The Arizona Senate voted 16-12 for the
bill, which will also require women to get a "state-scripted disclosure
from doctors." The minimum vote required from the 30-member Senate to
pass the bill was 16. Doctors would also have to provide informed
consent, which would give women information about the risks and
alternatives to abortion, says the AP.

The House approved the bill in March, so it heads next to Arizona Gov.
Jan Brewer, who is anti-choice, supported the bill’s restrictions.

Republic of Slovakia Approves Bill That Will Inform Women of Abortion "Risks"
An
amendment that will requirement women to be informed of supposed risks
of abortion, alternatives to abortion and (biased) information about
the "unborn child," as well as mandating parental consent, was passed
by the parliament of the Republic of Slovakia, according to a LifeNews.com article.

In
Slovakia, abortions are not highly restricted. They are allowed in all
cases during the first trimester, but has some restrictions once the
first trimester is over.

The article states:

"Marie
Smith, the director of the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues,
told LifeNews.com she was pleased with the vote.

"This
pro-woman, pro-life amendment is great news for Slovak women who will
have access to the true facts about the harmful physical and psychological
effects of abortion, be offered alternatives to abortion and fully
informed on the development of their unborn child," she said.

The
Seimas voted 80-7 in favor of the pro-life measure and its abortion
limits, which is a strong vote, Smith explained, since the legislative
body is evenly split on the question of legal abortions.

"Slovak
lawmakers found ‘common ground’ in agreeing that women deserve
to know the truth about abortion, need to know the alternatives to
abortion, should have resources to help them successfully deliver
and take care of their infants, and be informed on the age and development
of their unborn child," she told LifeNews.com late Monday."

Sarkozy Introduced by Sarkozy Would Not Allow Burqas in Public
French
President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed the Parliament Monday. In his
speech, he denounced the burqa, mostly worn by Muslim women, and called
it "a sign of the subjugation, of the submission, of women." He also said it is not welcome in France, as reported in a The American Prospect.

According to the article, few women in France wear the burqa, which completely covers the body and has an opening for the eyes.

TAP’s Michelle Goldberg’s writes,

"Headscarves have been banned in French schools since 2004. Now Sarkozy
wants to go much further, banning burqas, loose, full-body veils that
cover women entirely, as well as niqabs, or face veils, from being worn
anywhere in public."

Many
feel Sarkozy’s words were a response to an Obama speech, in which he
said "the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover
her hair is somehow less equal," is not an idea he accepts, The American Prospect said.

Louisiana House Approves Conscience Clause
A Daily Women’s Health Policy article
reported Tuesday the Louisiana House approved a bill allowing health
care workers to refuse to participate in procedures based on moral or
religious beliefs with a 88-12 vote in favor of the bill. "Now the bill
goes to Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is expected to sign it," the article said.

It
also said the bill will protect health care works from criminal
penalties, job loss or demotion if they choose to not participate in
"abortion, certain types of emergency contraception, human embryonic
stem cell research, human embryo cloning, euthanasia or
physician-assisted suicide…The conservative Louisiana Family Forum advocated for the bill. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the American Civil Liberties Union opposed it, arguing that patients would be denied access to services and information."

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE:

June 23: Christian NewsWire: Pro-Life Women to Oppose Taxpayer Funded Abortion in District of Columbia

June 22: LifeSiteNews: Late-Term Abortions are Never Necessary: Former Abortionist

June 23: LifeSiteNews:Senate Blocks Pro-Tiller Resolution Glorifying Abortion Industry

June 22: AP:Ariz. Legislature approves abortion constraints

June 23: Christian Examiner: Healthcare bill includes a bigger dose of tax dollars for abortion providers

June 23: Advocate: Fighting Florida’s Adoption Ban

June 23: AP: NC Senate approves changing public school sex ed

June 23: Chicago Sun-Times: No sex please, there’s a recession

June 23: LifeSiteNews: Commentary: The Return of Anti-People Propaganda

June 23: WLAJ: Family Planning

June 23: Campus Progress: The Problem With Randall Terry