Ark., Ariz., Iowa, Va. Consider Legislation Restricting Abortion Access

April 4, 2011 — The Arkansas House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Thursday voted down a bill that would require abortion providers to give women notice 24 hours before an abortion if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, AP/Washington Examiner reports. The 20-member committee voted in favor of the measure in a 7-5 vote, but the measure needed the support of 11 members to pass (AP/Washington Examiner, 3/31).

Ariz. Gov. Signs Bill To Restrict Medication Abortions, Require Ultrasounds

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) on Saturday signed legislation (HB 2416, SB 1246) that imposes restrictions on facilities that provide medication abortion and bars physicians from using telemedicine to provide medication abortion services, the Arizona Republic reports. The legislation also requires that physicians provide a woman seeking abortion services with an ultrasound image of the fetus and that the woman listen to the fetus' heartbeat if it is audible.

Michelle Steinberg, public-policy manager and lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, said the bill would put undue strain on low-income women and those who live in rural areas. "This will make [abortion care] unavailable in any place but Phoenix and Tucson," she said. Steinberg also criticized the governor for signing the bill at a fundraiser for the Center for Arizona Policy, a not-for-profit organization that pushed for the ultrasound legislation. "The fact that the governor is signing the bill at a CAP dinner shows it's not about women's health," she said, adding, "This was absolutely well orchestrated" (Cone Sexton, Arizona Republic, 4/2).

Iowa House Passes Bill Banning Abortions After 20 Weeks

The Iowa House voted 60-39 on Thursday to approve a bill (HF 657) that would ban abortion after 20 weeks, Reuters reports. The bill is modeled after a Nebraska law (LB 1103) restricting abortion based on claims that fetuses feel pain after 20 weeks.

The legislation now will move to the state Senate, which has a Democratic majority. State Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa (R) said several Senate Democrats will support the bill (Henderson/Wisniewski, Reuters, 4/1).

Virginia Governor Adds Antiabortion Amendment to Health Insurance Bill

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) has added an amendment restricting insurance coverage for abortion to a bill that indicated Virginia’s intent to run its own health insurance exchange outlined in the federal health reform law and directed state regulators to establish it, Washington Post reports. The measure was already approved by the General Assembly.

Under McDonnell's amendment, private insurance plans offered through the exchange would be prohibited from providing abortion coverage, except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life was at risk. His amendment also prohibits private insurers from offering separate "rider" policies that would cover abortion care.

A spokesperson for the governor said that McDonnell "does not believe elective abortions should be covered through the exchange or with taxpayer dollars." Similar measures are pending in more than 20 states across the country. Jessica Honke, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia said the measure was a "stark departure from the status quo" and that low-income women would be disproportionately affected.

The General Assembly will vote on McDonnell's amendment on Wednesday, and it will need a majority to pass. According to the Post, the amendment has majority support in the state House. Although Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate, two Democrats "generally support abortion restrictions." If both support McDonnell's amendment, the vote would end in a tie and antiabortion-rights supporter Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) would cast the tie-breaking vote, allowing the amendment to pass (Helderman, Washington Post, 3/31).