The Assault on Womens Sexual and Reproductive Rights

[femmeInterrupted]

http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/20...re-bad-people/

[Kobi]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — As oil-rich North Dakota moves toward outlawing most abortions, it's in a better position than most states for what could be a long and costly court battle over its restrictions.

Lawmakers on Friday sent the Republican governor two anti-abortion bills, one banning the procedure as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and another prohibiting women from having the procedure because a fetus has a genetic defect, such as Down syndrome. They would be the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S

Abortion-rights activists have promised a legal battle over the measures if they become law. But supporters of the bills say their goal is to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion up until a fetus is considered viable, usually at 22 to 24 weeks

Gov. Jack Dalrymple hasn't said anything to indicate he would veto the measures, and the bills have enough support in each chamber for the Republican-controlled Legislature to override him. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the bills Friday, and the House passed them last month. The votes were largely on party lines, with Republicans supporting the measures and Democrats opposing them.

The state's only abortion clinic is in Fargo, and abortion-rights advocates say the measures are meant to shut it down. They urged Dalrymple to veto the bills.

The American Civil Liberties Union called the measures "extreme" and noted that many women don't realize they are pregnant until after six weeks.

Outside of Fargo, the nearest abortion clinics are four hours to the south in Sioux Falls, S.D., and four hours to the southeast in Minneapolis.

North Dakota is one of several states with Republican-controlled Legislatures and GOP governors that is looking at abortion restrictions. Arkansas passed a 12-week ban earlier this month that prohibits most abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected using an abdominal ultrasound. That ban is scheduled to take effect 90 days after the Arkansas Legislature adjourns.

A fetal heartbeat can generally be detected earlier in a pregnancy using a vaginal ultrasound, but Arkansas lawmakers balked at requiring women seeking abortions to have the more invasive imaging technique.

North Dakota's measure doesn't specify how a fetal heartbeat would be detected. Doctors performing an abortion after a heartbeat is detected could face a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Women having an abortion would not face charges.

The genetic abnormalities bill also bans abortion based on gender selection. Pennsylvania, Arizona and Oklahoma already have such laws, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion restrictions across the U.S. North Dakota would be the first state to ban abortions based on a genetic defect, according to the institute.

Sen. Margaret Sitte, a Republican from Bismarck, said the bill is meant to ban the destruction of life based on "an arbitrary society standard of being good enough." Some test results pointing to abnormalities are incorrect, she said, and doctors can perform surgeries even before a baby is born to correct some genetic conditions.

http://news.yahoo.com/north-dakota-f...070224321.html

[femmeInterrupted]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...aws-88966.html

[Kobi]

The Kansas House of Representatives has taken the next step in passing HB 2253, a massive 70-page omnibus bill that codifies anti-choice lies and talking points and financially and politically isolates reproductive health clinics, abortion providers, and their volunteers in the state. The bill represents the state legislature’s latest attempt to pass a multipurpose, anti-choice platform, which includes modifying the state tax code, defunding Planned Parenthood, and socially ostracizing abortion providers and their colleagues. Unlike last year’s version, this year’s version of the bill appears likely to pass both chambers of the legislature.

Proposed by State Rep. Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe), the omnibus bill presents anti-choice lies as science and revamps the state’s tax code to eliminate “taxpayer funding of abortion,” despite the protests of individuals in the medical community who consider the legislation politically motivated propaganda. Leading the charge against the bill at a recent hearing was State Rep. Barbara Bollier (R-Mission Hills), a former medical professional who tried to negate the bad science in the bill with amendments addressing claims that a fetus feels pain at 22 weeks and that abortion causes breast cancer. Meanwhile, Kinzer testified that there are “conflicting” studies about abortion causing breast cancer, and “where there is doubt or conflicting studies, the Legislature has the authority to decide what information should be distributed by law,” according to the Topeka Capital Journal. If upheld, this would set a chilling precedent, essentially dividing the country into states where science is respected and states where anti-choice “science” rules.

The house also opposed an amendment to a ban on abortions after 22 weeks. When asked to consider allowing exceptions to the state’s blanket 22-week abortion ban—loopholes that would allow a rape or incest survivor to obtain a safe abortion without leaving the state—lawmakers said absolutely not. A Kansas City Star editorial called the rejection of the amendment “a shocking lack of empathy for women.” The editorial goes on to say, “In testimony to the triumph of zealotry, the house voted 92-31 for the abortion restrictions. We hope the Senate will show some compassion for young women facing the anguish of an unwanted, late-term pregnancy.”

“Representative Lance Kinzer and Governor Brownback have reached a new low with the passage and certain signature of House Bill 2253,” Elise Higgins, state co-coordinator for Kansas NOW told RH Reality Check via email. “This 70-page bill has 40 provisions, ranging from restrictions on who can work in schools and 12 new taxes on abortion to a lie connecting abortion to breast cancer. HB 2253 would be harmful on its own, but on top of 20 other abortion regulations in Kansas, it’s devastating. Worst of all is the Kansas house’s overwhelming rejection of an amendment that would have exempted pregnancies resulting from rape and incest from anti-abortion statutes. Kansas government is without compassion or common sense, and women and their families will suffer for it.”



- See more at: http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/20....OS0JanI1.dpuf

[Kobi]

[Kobi]

The main stream media seems to be in a bit of a tizzy over Susan B. Anthony List (and Ken Cuccinelli for Governor fan) president Marjorie Dannenfelser comparing abortion to slavery during a recent CPAC speech. “[T]here’s a point when you become culpable in the killing of other people, because of what the government is making you do. And that is one of those tipping point moments. It happened in slavery when slaves had to be returned to their masters. When we… when our hands are bloodied by this, it becomes a whole ‘nother thing,” Dannenfelser said, according to progressive blog Blue Virginia, leading the Washington Post to later report on the incident, then the Richmond Times Dispatch to run its own story with tape of Cuccinelli using similar terms himself at an event last June.

Maybe this language is somehow new to those who don’t pay much attention to the abortion issue. For those who do spend any time listening, this is rhetoric we’ve heard over and over again. We’ve heard the repeated claims that just like the zygote, the slave was once not considered a person either. We’ve been told that somehow controlling what happens inside our own bodies is akin to “owning” a human being as property. We’ve had charts like these pasted to our facebook pages. We’ve seen the “abortion abolitionists” touting their merchandize and drop cards, or been emailed or tweeted at by the person swearing he or she is the next “William Wilberforce” prepared to bring about true equality—at least, for the fertilized eggs and embryos.

This idea that forcing women and girls to remain pregnant and give birth against their will is somehow analogous to freeing slaves from bondage may be news to you, but we’ve been hearing all about it for years. So, welcome to our world, mainstream media and every day people. Yes, those anti-choice activists are just as extreme as we’ve been telling you they are.

- See more at: http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/20....CVIa4UWC.dpuf

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Really? Is Marjorie Dannenfelser unaware that women were once deemed the property of males and on par of goats and pigs? Is she aware of the atrocities we were subjected to as pieces of property? Does she have a clue about the history and current statics on rape, domestic violence, and the ritualistic mutilating and killing of women?

The lack of logic in these asinine arguments make me freakin nuts.

[Kobi]

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed legislation Tuesday that that would make North Dakota the nation's most restrictive state on abortion rights, banning the procedure if a fetal heartbeat can be detected — something that can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

The Republican governor also signed into law another measure that would makes North Dakota the first to ban abortions based on genetic defects such as Down syndrome, and a measure that requires a doctor who performs abortions to be a physician with hospital-admitting privileges.

The measures, which would take effect Aug. 1, are fueled in part by an attempt to close the state's sole abortion clinic in Fargo. Dalrymple, in a statement, said the so-called fetal heartbeat bill is a direct challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion up until a fetus is considered viable, usually at 22 to 24 weeks.

"Although the likelihood of this measure surviving a court challenge remains in question, this bill is nevertheless a legitimate attempt by a state legislature to discover the boundaries of Roe v. Wade," Dalrymple said. "Because the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed state restrictions on the performing of abortions and because the Supreme Court has never considered this precise restriction ... the constitutionality of this measure is an open question."

Abortion-rights advocates have promised a legal fight that they say will be long, costly and unwinnable for the state.

Dalrymple's statement said the Legislature "should appropriate dollars for a litigation fund" before the session ends in early May.

Arkansas passed a 12-week ban earlier this month that prohibits most abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected using an abdominal ultrasound. That ban is scheduled to take effect 90 days after the Arkansas Legislature adjourns.

A fetal heartbeat can generally be detected earlier in a pregnancy using a vaginal ultrasound, but Arkansas lawmakers balked at requiring women seeking abortions to have the more invasive imaging technique.

North Dakota's legislation doesn't specify how a fetal heartbeat would be detected. Doctors performing an abortion after a heartbeat is detected could face a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Women having an abortion would not face charges.

The legislation to ban abortions based on genetic defects also would ban abortion based on gender selection. The Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion laws throughout the country, says Pennsylvania, Arizona and Oklahoma also have laws outlawing abortion based on gender selection.

The Republican-led North Dakota Legislature has endorsed a spate of anti-abortion Legislation this year. North Dakota lawmakers moved last week to outlaw abortion in the state by passing a resolution defining life as starting at conception, essentially banning abortion in the state. The measure is likely to come before voters in November 2014.

Representatives also endorsed another anti-abortion bills last week that is awaiting Dalrymple's signature. It would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the disputed premise that fetuses feel pain at that point.

Dalrymple said the measure requiring abortion doctors to have hospital-admitting privileges also likely will be challenged in court.

"Nevertheless, it is a legitimate and new question for the courts regarding a precise restriction on doctors who perform abortions," he said.