Courtesy Gage Skidmore
Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday expressed support for a State Senate bill which would require women to complete ultrasound imaging before they can request informed consent for an abortion.
McDonnell plans to support Senate Bill 484, proposed by State Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Winchester, earlier in January.
“[McDonnell] believes this will provide the woman with even more information to make an informed decision,” McDonnell spokesperson Jeff Caldwell said.
University Center for Politics spokesperson Kyle Kondik said the bill reflects the current political and ideological divides in the state legislature.
“I think that what we are talking about here is that this is a conservative piece of legislation, and now Republicans in Virginia have control,” Kondik said. “Since this is a priority for the Senate, they’re trying to move forward with these social issues and legislation, and Democrats aren’t very happy about it.”
After completing an ultrasound, women would not be required to look at the image, which State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said makes the proposed bill superfluous.
“There is no medically necessary reason to get an ultrasound,” Deeds said. “[Even] if a young woman is pregnant and finds out that the baby she is carrying is deceased and needs an abortion for the miscarriage, she would too be required to have an ultrasound although the fetus is no longer alive.”
Asst. Religious Studies Prof. Matthew Hedstrom said the bill undermined women’s right to choose.
“It’s patronizing to women because it assumes that they don’t know what they’re doing,” Hedstrom said. “It’s just another expense to make the process more complicated.”
The bill would penalize physicians who refuse to comply with the ultrasound requirement by fining them $2,500.
McDonnell supported a similar bill when it entered the General Assembly about 10 years ago because he expected it would benefit women.
The bill was expected to clear the Senate yesterday and move to the Republican-controlled House, but was delayed for further discussion, Kondik said.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill today.
The power of truth. The truth of science. The medicine of prevention. Young girls can lie about far along they are. Earlier abortions are cheaper. That ultrasound and heartbeat won’t look or sound much like a worthless tumor, and that is what has the abortion industry – UVA included – flipping out. This science really messes with their politics!
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Her idiotic headline aside, I’m actually glad that Grace Hollis got three pro abortion opinions while providing less than one sentence for the Governor.
Kyle Kondic proved his ignorance of the state Senate, as TWO SENATE DEMOCRATS PATRONED THIS BILL. Duh!
Creigh Deeds called a child in utero a “BABY,” and boy what an embarrassment to religion the UVA Religious Studies Department has become. Who, after all would care about the size and age of who you are about to kill? Complications will just be covered up like UPenn did for years..
Oh boy is this great! =o)
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Passed the Senate about an hour ago, with democrat Colgan voting yea. Will go onto the House where it will probably pass by at least 2/3.
Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, praised the vote.
“We are very pleased that the state Senate has recognized the need to update our existing informed consent practice with the most advanced medical technology available, including an ultrasound. “The majority of Virginians see this proposal as reasonable and common sense, as shown in a recent Mason-Dixon poll showing that 54 percent of Virginians, including 57 percent of women, support it.”
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Don’t let government beurocrats tell my insurance company what to do, but you’d better damn well make sure government beurocrats tell my doctor what to do!
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Democratic Senator Phillip Puckett also voted for this life saving bill, while republican John Watkins voted against it. One opponent did not show up, so it was 21-18. President Sullivan sure knows who Phil Puckett is. They have, um, chatted before.. =o)
This is just the beginning, folks.
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