Sometimes it takes a set back like the signing of the Healthcare legislation to wake people up on issues like abortion. I am proud that TN is the first state that said Abortion is not health care and we will not use tax dollars to fund abortions. Even many of the politicians friendly to the abortion industry did not vote against it.....people like Roy Herron who would try to sound pro life with his homespun stories but support the abortion industry sometimes in a stealth manner. I wasn't surprised since he is running for Tanner's seat, he is going to have to try really hard to cover his tracks and sound ...oh so pro life....
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By Nati Harnik, AP |
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| Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman walks
into the Governors Hearing Room in Lincoln, Neb., on April 13, to sign
into law two landmark abortion bills that both sides of the abortion
debate say are firsts in the country. |
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USA TODAY
Dozens of states are passing or debating new
restrictions on abortion, a trend fueled in part by passage of the
nation's new health care law.
Both sides of the hot-button issue are seeing new
approaches to reduce abortions.
"This year, particularly in the past couple of
weeks, it's really turned into a free-for-all on trying to restrict
abortions," said Elizabeth Nash of the Guttmacher Institute, a research
group focused on reproductive health and rights.
The most significant legislation, both sides say,
is a Nebraska law signed by the governor this month that would ban most
abortions at the 20th week of pregnancy based on a new rationale that
the fetus feels pain. Legal challenges are likely. Previously, abortion
bans were based on when a fetus could survive outside the womb,
generally beginning around 22 weeks, according to medical studies.
At least 22 states have bills to increase
counseling or waiting periods; 18 states have bills to expand the use of
ultrasound, Nash said.
A debate in Congress over abortion coverage
through insurance sold in future government-run health marketplaces —
called exchanges — nearly derailed passage of the health care law. Even
though President Obama issued an executive order stating that no public
funds would go for abortions, several states are seeking to ban abortion
coverage from plans sold through their exchanges.
Tennessee lawmakers last week passed a bill that
would ban abortion coverage in any plan sold through its exchange. It
applies even if premiums were paid with private funds because public
funds would help run the exchange, said the bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Diane
Black.
Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana and Oklahoma are considering
similar bills. "I think you'll see a lot more next year," said Spaulding
Balch.
Other legislation includes:
• Oklahoma. One of five abortion bills the
Senate passed last week would require doctors to show an ultrasound
image to the woman, but she can avert her eyes. Gov.
Brad Henry, a
Democrat, vetoed it
Friday, and an override attempt is expected.
• Kansas. Doctors must give a medical
diagnosis justifying late-term abortions under a new bill, which was
vetoed by the governor April 15. An override attempt is expected.
• Utah. A new law makes self-induced
abortion a homicide. It was prompted by a girl who paid a man $150 to
beat her to try to induce a miscarriage.