Citing new research showing that Texas’ increased restrictions on abortion are negatively affecting women, family planning clinics, and abortion providers in the state, Rep. Jessica Farrar will file a bill this week to overturn the forced 24-hour waiting period.
The combination of focus on so-called “mother’s health” laws and a desire to become more radical 40 years after abortion has been legalized in all 50 states will cause anti-choice politicians to go to extremes this legislative session.
The medical community has been clear: intrusive laws restricting abortion care undermine the relationship between health care providers and their patients and are based on political ideology, not on providing the best possible care.
![[img src]](http://rhrealitycheck.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/teaser-images/2012-06-08-marty1-187x125.jpg)
The women of Louisiana now need a 24-hour wait, to listen to the fetal or embryonic heart tones and must hear a physical description prior to abortion.
![House Speaker William O'Brien. [img src]](http://rhrealitycheck.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/teaser-images/2012-05-16-marty1-187x125.jpg)
How many times will the senate have to say no before the Speaker of the House will listen?
Despite the fact that South Dakota’s three day wait has been on hold for being likely unconstitutional, Utah’s governor has signed the bill anyway.
![Rep. Steve Eliason. [img src]](http://rhrealitycheck.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/../../files/teaser-images/2012-03-06-marty1-187x125.jpeg)
Utah may soon be the second state to pass a law requiring a woman to wait three days before terminating a pregnancy.
A federal court this evening blocked implementation of South Dakota H.B. 1217, the law passed earlier this year that would require a woman seeking an abortion to wait at least 72 hours after first meeting her doctor before having the procedure, and to visit a “crisis pregnancy center” for a lecture based on ideology, not medical or scientific evidence.
Texas students respond to the state’s teen pregnancy rate by marching on the capitol to demand contraceptive education, a mini-roundup of the South Dakota waiting period/mandatory pro-life counseling bill, and the Oklahoma House moves to make abortion after 20 weeks a felony – for the doctor.
Oklahoma is playing the veto game for a fourth time, South Carolina is stuck in the mud on abortion, and Canada teaches the U.S. some lessons about reducing teen pregnancy.
