| That's right. Senator Robert Bentley (R, 19th century) has decided his only hope to win the Republican nomination for governor is to start pounding the ultimate wedge issue: ABORTION. And since he's a sitting state Senator he can do something the rest of the GOP gubernatorial field can't: INTRODUCE BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE. So he's prefiled not one but a whole flock of bills for the 2010 session of the Alabama legislature. 1. The Human Life Recognition Act
2. The Health Care Rights of Conscience Act
3. Proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit abortion
4. House Joint Resolution opposing the Federal Freedom of Choice Act. Highlights of Bentley's shameless political panders: #1 - Prior to an abortion, the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician, or a qualified person has to read this to the woman in person: The abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being.
That new requirement is on top of a whole host of things the state already tells (see Title 26, Section 26-23A-4) your doctor he or she must do, like performing an ultrasound before the abortion (and keeping the tape in your medical record for at least 4 years) and telling you "The unborn child may be able to survive outside the womb." So much for the government not getting between you and your doctor. I guess that doesn't apply to the state government, or maybe it's ok as long as only Republicans legislate what happens in the exam room. #2 - The so-called Health Care Rights of Conscience Act. I'm no lawyer, but this thing appears to be incredibly sweeping -- yes it covers pharmacies, nursing homes and clinics and applies to pharmacists, pharmacy employees, counselors, social workers and so forth as well as the more expected nurses and physicians. I suspect it would allow a pharmacy to refuse to dispense RU-486 or almost anything else (oxycontin for those who are concerned about drug abuse, maybe?) up to and including contraceptives I bet, and doesn't appear to even limit objections of conscience to reproductive issues. This deserves a really close look for implications related to hospice and end of life care. #3 - A Constitutional Amendment criminalizing abortion. "... any person who causes or participates in the abortion of an unborn child shall be guilty of a Class B felony."
As a sop to people of conscience, he includes an exception for rape or incest or to save the mother's life. Best I can tell, a Class B felony in Alabama translates to 2 to 20 years. Do we really want to be putting doctors on trial or in prison? Or women? For a medical procedure that is legal in these United States? Bentley says he realizes such a law would invite a legal challenge, but says "I think it is a wise expenditure of state money." Right. Alabama is so flush with cash we can afford to sink a million or so into legal fees on another Quixotic attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade which, as the conservatives like to say, is "settled law." #4 - Opposes the Freedom of Choice Act. This is a bill to oppose a federal law that doesn't exist yet. Priceless. I can't express how disappointing this is and I expect a great many Alabama women feel the same way. All Bentley's Republican opponents appear to be going along with his ideas to interfere with medical care, criminalize medicine and spend a ton of money we don't have on legal fees. On the Democratic side, Artur Davis has a less than stellar record on reproductive issues but at least is clear on criminalization: [Communications Director] Alex Goepfert, said in Congress Davis has voted to ban partial birth abortions, prohibit federal funding of abortions and in favor of restrictions on abortions for minors. "However, he doesn't believe that sending young women or their doctors to prison will make us a stronger society," Goepfert said.
A spokesman for Ron Sparks said the Agriculture Commissioner was studying the bills and resolution proposed by Bentley and hoped to have a statement later today. Republicans are poised to completely alienate the younger generation of voters by criminalizing abortion in Alabama. Will Democrats (the two currently running for governor and those already serving in the Legislature) go along with Bentley's extreme proposals or will common sense prevail? |
