By Dave Andrusko
As it came close to time to post National Right to Life News Today for Wednesday, it became clear that doing one of our usual point-by-point state updates wouldn’t work. Too much is in flux, including the middle of negotiations, to make many definitive statements. Instead I will post a complete run down tomorrow.
NRLC State Legislative Director Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D.
Let me make just a few general comments (no names). There will be always be pro-abortionists, sometimes in leadership positions, who are determined to stop pro-life legislation in its tracks. I’ve very impressed by how cleverly and determinedly our state groups have applied pressure to help these them understand that while the legislator may not agree with the proposal, their district and/or does.
Also, to be fair, legislatures are beginning to wind down and there is an awful lot to get done in a week or two. That’s why it is critical that National Right to Life’s Department of State Legislation, working closely with NRL state affiliates, clears up ambiguities—real and (mostly) imaginary. If legislator “x” fails to help because of reasons “y,” when you get their ear to politely educate them that they misunderstand the situation, you can bring them over.
There are lots of bills still in the mix. As you know, Idaho, Kansas, and Oklahoma have passed NRLC’s model “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” first passed last year in Nebraska. There is at least one other state where this crucially important bill may make it to the governor’s desk this session.
Other states have passed clinic regulation bills; others continue to try to bring commonsense protections to a dangerous industry that in many states is largely unregulated.
Other states now have on their books laws that would prohibit coverage for elective abortions under health-insurance plans created by ObamaCare, affirming the principle that abortion is not health care and protecting the conscience rights of citizens.
And still other states are investigating ways to cut off funding to the largest abortion performer in the United States—Planned Parenthood.
Finally, we’ve made headway on passing laws to make sonograms available to abortion-vulnerable women before they abort. But because a sonogram brings home the reality of what is happening in an unparalleled way, pro-abortion groups are frantically fighting their passage.
Tomorrow, a full run-down.
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