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Morning Briefing

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Friday, Jul 29 2022

Full Issue

'What About My Life?' Young Girl Asks W.Va. Lawmakers Poised To Pass New Abortion Ban

As West Virginia prepares to pass the first new legislation since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that bans abortion, a 12 year old's comments made national news. The bill allows the criminal prosecution of doctors who perform the procedure. Legislative and court developments from Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and other states are also reported.

In a public hearing for a West Virginia abortion bill that would ban the procedure in almost all cases, a 12-year-old girl supporting abortion rights took to the lectern Wednesday and asked Republican lawmakers whether they care about her or young people like her: 鈥淲hat about my life?鈥... 鈥淚f a man decides that I鈥檓 an object and does unspeakable and tragic things to me, am I, a child, supposed to birth and carry another child? Am I to put my body through the physical trauma of pregnancy? Am I to suffer the mental implications, a child who had no say in what was being done with my body?鈥 She added, 鈥淪ome here say they are pro-life. What about my life? Does my life not matter to you?鈥 (Bella, 7/28)

A bill up for a final vote in West Virginia鈥檚 Senate could make the state the first to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 ruling removing its protected status as a constitutional right. Senators are set to meet Friday afternoon for a third reading of the bill, which some complained was not vetted in any of the chamber鈥檚 committees. If passed, it would head to the Republican governor, who has signaled he favors a statewide ban. (Raby, 7/29)

On moves to limit abortion access, and some resistance to anti-abortion efforts 鈥

Indiana鈥檚 Republican-dominated Senate rejected a push by conservative lawmakers Thursday night to strip exceptions for rape and incest victims in a proposal that would ban most abortions in the state. (Davies and Rodgers, 7/29)

Attorney General Keith Ellison said Thursday that he won鈥檛 appeal a ruling that struck down most of Minnesota鈥檚 restrictions on abortion as unconstitutional, saying the state has already spent enough time and money on the case and is unlikely to win an appeal anyway. Ellison, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, called his decision 鈥渋n the public interest and ... the right legal decision.鈥 (7/28)

Pennsylvania鈥檚 Democratic governor sued the state Legislature on Thursday over a package of proposed constitutional amendments that Republican lawmakers are pursuing, including one that would say the state constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions. (Scolforo, 7/29)

A judge鈥檚 ruling that will delay the closing of North Dakota鈥檚 lone abortion clinic should provide more than enough time to move the business to a neighboring city in Minnesota, the facility鈥檚 owner and operator said Thursday. In fact, Red River Women鈥檚 Clinic director Tammi Kromenaker said she was prepared to open shop in Moorhead, Minnesota, next week if the North Dakota鈥檚 abortion ban had gone into effect Thursday. She said now, though, she鈥檒l have more time to make sure the move from Fargo goes smoothly. (Kolpack, 7/28)

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is asking a state appeals court to overturn an injunction issued last week that blocks the state鈥檚 abortion ban. The injunction ruling by a judge in Louisville prevents the state鈥檚 near-total ban on abortion from taking effect. The state鈥檚 two abortion clinics in Louisville have continued providing abortion since the judge first blocked the law last month. (7/28)

North Carolina鈥檚 Republican General Assembly leaders have asked a federal judge to reinstate a 20-week abortion ban previously thrown out by courts, despite the Democratic attorney general鈥檚 refusal to seek enforcement of the ban after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion protections. (Schoenbaum, 7/28)

The law office representing Bernard, DeLaney & DeLaney, released a statement on Thursday saying Rokita had forwarded six letters to the doctor on Tuesday informing her that six 鈥渃onsumer complaint鈥 investigations had been started. The law firm asserted that none of individuals involved in the complaints ever had any direct interactions with Bernard. The complaints appear to have come from people living in California, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. Only one complaint involved a person from Indiana, where Bernard is based. (Choi, 7/28)

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz mocked a youngster for her abortion campaigning. It backfired 鈥

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz attempted to humiliate a teenage girl after arguing that overweight and unattractive women don't need to worry about getting pregnant or needing abortions. That same girl has since raised over $700,000 for abortion care. (Jones, 7/28)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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