Antiabortion Amendments Stalling Unrelated Bills in Ky. House

March 11, 2010 — Two Republican members of Kentucky's House are attaching antiabortion-rights amendments to several unrelated bills that are awaiting a chamber vote, a move that is threatening to derail changes related to children's Medicaid coverage, among other things, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The amendments -- sponsored by Reps. David Floyd and Tim Moore -- would require abortion providers to conduct an ultrasound and show the woman the image. The amendments also would require counseling prior to an abortion.

As of Tuesday evening, at least six bills were stalled because of the amendments. Democratic leaders are sending bills back to committee to avoid floor fights over the abortion amendments. Floyd, the House minority whip, previously sponsored a bill (HB 373) with the same language as the amendments. That bill did not make it out of a February House Health and Welfare Committee hearing, the Herald-Leader reports. He claims that if the House were allowed to vote on the amendments, they would pass by a five-to-one margin.

Backers of the derailed bills say that Floyd and Moore are using the amendments to stall legislation that has broad support. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said, "I find it sadly ironic that the same voices that want to protect unborn children are willing to put children as risk after they are born." In addition, some antiabortion-rights groups are criticizing Floyd and Moore's strategy. Robert Castagna, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, said that the amendments "are not something that we would be endorsing" (Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader, 3/10).