An Iowa legislative committee has cleared a bill requiring doctors to perform an ultrasound allowing a woman to see her unborn baby before undergoing an abortion. The bill is similar to legislation being weighed by Virginia, and proposed Arkansas legislation that would have required doctors to allow a woman to listen to her baby’s heartbeat before performing an abortion.
The Washington State legislature is weighing a bill that would tie insurance coverage for abortion to maternity coverage.
The bill would require health insurers paying for maternity care to also cover abortions. Abortion advocates say the bill is intended to insure abortion coverage is maintained once Obamacare goes into effect in 2014.
Joseph Franco, senior legal counsel for Alliance Defense Fund, has written a compelling column on the federal government’s contraception mandate and the so-called “compromise” announced by the President last week.
Virginia’s state House and Senate are weighing two pro-life bills.
The first bill requires doctors conduct an ultrasound, allowing a woman to see her unborn baby before having an abortion. This is very similar to legislation sponsored last year that would have required doctors to allow a woman to listen to her baby’s heartbeat before performing an abortion.
The second bill states that life begins at conception.
Some of you have most likely been following a recent case here in Arkansas involving religious activities at preschools that receive state funding. Americans United for Separation of Church and State complained to the state about Rep. Justin Harris’ preschool, Growing God’s Kingdom, which receives state funding, and is seeking to ban religious activities from such facilities in Arkansas.
The state Department of Human Services has proposed a rule that would do just that, but the state Board of Education is allowing for a 30-day public comment period first.
