Remember the GOP cry for ‘JOBS!’ back in 2010? Yeah, that. (via MoveOn.Org)
Update on Forced Ultrasound Laws
Virginia is now the 8th state with forced ultrasounds before abortion. When it passed its law, it joined Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Texas has the harshest forced ultrasound law currently in effect. As Andrea Grimes reported,
“Texas has the most extreme law that’s being enforced right now,” says the Center For Reproductive Rights’ Julie Rikelman, the lead attorney on the CRR’s lawsuit filed against the Texas legislation. Despite the sympathetic leanings of a federal district judge who initially ruled on the case, the suit has more or less been stalled by a vehemently anti-choice Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which denied the CRR’s requested injunction against enforcement last month. Now, that means that all aspects of the law—mandated ultrasounds, 24-hour waiting periods, and forced speech—are now in full force in Texas.
Oklahoma’s forced ultrasound bill, which was similar to TX’s, was struck down by a federal court recently.
North Carolina, which also has passed a harsh TX-style forced ultrasound bill, is unable to enforce their law pending a court decision.
Pennsylvania’s forced ultrasound bill is officially kaput, at least for this year.
And, as Robin Marty reports, Iowa:
What is the difference between a traffic light camera and a mandatory trans-vaginal ultrasound? One is a violation of privacy, according to Iowa legislators.
Can you guess which?
The Iowa legislature is considering banning traffic cameras due to “privacy concerns.” And those who are arguing for the ban are the same who think all women should be forced to undergo forced ultrasounds prior to an abortion.
Anti-choice activists are purposefully trying to use ultrasounds as a means to get women who are considering abortion into crisis pregnancy centers, misleading them into thinking that they are going to receive free, necessary ultrasounds that they will need to have before they terminate their pregnancies.
At the annual conference for crisis pregnancy centers, former Planned Parenthood employee turned anti-choice personality Abby Johnson explains to attendees how to use ultrasounds and other means to mislead women into coming into crisis pregnancy centers so they can be talked out of having abortions.
Video from RH Reality Check piece by Robin Marty: “Abby Johnson Explains To CPCs How To Use Forced Ultrasound Bills To Lie and Get Women In the Door”
The War on Women Blues [via Care2]
Take one minute to contact Governor Butch Otter and tell him to VETO this bill if it reaches his desk. Let him know THE ENTIRE COUNTRY is watching.
Facebook (his wall, as of this posting, is open and you can comment to it directly)
Twitter: @ButchOtter (hashtag: #NoForcedUltrasounds)
Phone: (208) 334-2100
WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE on this one. Please keep up your efforts.
Tell Idaho’s Govenor, Butch Otter, to VETO the mandatory forced ultrasound bill. Let’s use some good old Tumblr activism to get this Change.org Petition from it’s current 1900 signatures to the 10,000 signatures they are looking for.
SIGNAL BOOST! LET’S DO THIS!
SIGNAL BOOST!
YOU got Virginia to drop transvaginal part of their mandatory ultrasound law.
YOU got Alabama to kill their bill.
YOU got Pennsylvania to effectively shelve theirs.
NOW it’s time for YOU to stop the Idaho bill in its tracks.
PLEASE SPREAD THIS MESSAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE and AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
At the link above is contact information for many senators in Idaho. Here are a few:
Sponsor of Bill: Sen. Chuck Winder:
Sen. Curt McKenzie
Sen. Patti Anne Lodge
Sen. Shawn Keough
Sen. Mitch Toryanski
- @mitchtoryanski
- Call: (208) 334-1425
From @PPVotesNW’s twitter account:
Unbelievable. The ultrasound bill mirroring Virginia’s passed. A sad day for women in Idaho. #noforcedultrasounds #idleg
UPDATE from @PPVotesNW: “Yes, to be clear, S1389 passed out of Senate State Affairs Committee 7-2, and will head to Sen. floor.”
Please have a seat in the Shaming Room, we’ll be right with you.
