Morning Roundup: Boehner Introduces Antichoice Legislation

Brady Swenson

Reps. Boehner and Smith introduce legislation that would permanently enshrine the Hyde amendment; At the behest of Gov. Brownback Kansas introduces two new antichoice bills; Hospital maternity wards are closing across the U.S.

Reps. Boehner and Smith introduce legislation that would permanently enshrine the Hyde amendment; At the behest of Gov. Brownback Kansas introduces two new antichoice bills; Hospital maternity wards are closing across the U.S.

  • House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) held a press conference Thursday with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to introduce the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” that would permanently codify the Hyde Amendment by prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion across all federal programs.  Boehner stated that a “ban on taxpayer funding of abortion is the will of the people, and it ought to be the will of the land.” Though Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America refuted the premise: “The 2010 elections were about jobs and the economy. It was not an endorsement of an anti-choice agenda.” Jessica Arons explains why the bill would go far beyond current law, seriously compromise women’s access to reproductive health care, and hamstring government operations.

  • Following a request from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R), conservatives in the state’s House of Representatives introduced legislation Wednesday that would impose new restrictions on abortion. The bill would require parental consent — in some cases, that of two parents — for teenagers seeking such a procedure. The proposal also includes language that would allow law enforcement to access state health records regarding abortions performed in the state.

  • More women of child-rearing age are uninsured and dependent on medical assistance. That is tightening the financial noose around hospital maternity care and causing longer waits and travel time for pregnant women.

Jan 21

Jan 20