With constituents distracted by the deadly pandemic, Republican state legislatures across the country are ramping up efforts to limit access to abortion
In early March, Idaho lawmakers conceded to Gov. Brad Little’s plea to transfer a mere $2 million to the Governor’s Emergency Fund to help respond to the coronavirus — the only COVID-19 relief that was considered before the legislature finally adjourned on March 20th. Yet on March 4th, the House had taken the time to pass a bill that would defund, pulling money that would never have gone toward abortions but rather would have paid for cancer screenings, STI testing, and birth control.
Meanwhile, SB 9, a “born alive” bill passed by the Senate on January 27th, awaits debate in the Kentucky House when it reconvenes this coming Wednesday. While purporting to protect infants born alive after failed abortions , what it would do is further stigmatize the procedure and force doctors to provide life support to — and prolong the suffering of — babies whose medical issues make them unable to live outside the womb.
“I mean, the state is practically shut down. Schools are shut down. Day cares are shut down. Movies theaters, bars, restaurants are all shut down. We shouldn’t be fighting controversial bills at this moment.
Kentucky Democratic Rep. Charles Booker agrees. “They’re playing politics,” he tells me. “I know very clearly that they are using this moment — when a lot of opposition, a lot of opposing perspectives, cannot be there — to quickly move these types of bills forward that they know that they’d catch a lot of hell for if the public were there.
Which calls into question the motives of those legislators who are focusing on pushing abortion legislation instead of on the health and well-being of their colleagues and constituents. “For some legislators, I think [abortion] is a really held conviction,” Wieder says. “But I think it reinforces that they’re not pro-life; they’re just pro-birth.” Her hope at present is that, as other states have done, Kentucky will end its session promptly.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Jared Kushner slammed for saying the federal medical supply stockpile isn’t meant for statesJared Kushner's comments have sparked a lively discussion about the Strategic National Stockpile.
Consulte Mais informação »
9 states have yet to issue formal stay-at-home orders amid coronavirus
Consulte Mais informação »
Some states receive masks with dry rot, broken ventilatorsSome states and cities that have been shipped masks, gloves, ventilators and other essential equipment from the nation’s medical stockpile to fight the coronavirus have gotten an unwelcome surprise: the material is unusable.
Consulte Mais informação »
Many states already short on paying unemployment"We&39;re talking about 10 million people filing for unemployment insurance in two weeks. Nobody is prepared for that," said one finance expert.
Consulte Mais informação »