Montana Pro-Lifers See Progress in 'Personhood' Legislation
Annie Bukacek of Montana Pro-Life Coalition notes seven states total are considering the measure, and her state is one of them. She says the Montana Senate passed it with a two-thirds majority. "This is the one that would be personhood, that would actually state that the unborn child is a person; and it passed the Senate," Bukacek explains. She adds it would be on the ballot in 2010 if it receives passing votes in the State House. However, even if it does not garner the required two-thirds vote, Bukacek points out citizens are permitted to petition the government to put it on the ballot.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=433656
Utah Senate OKs Bill on Fetal Pain
The Utah Senate has approved a bill requiring doctors to tell women about to receive an abortion that a 20-week-old fetus could experience pain and that medication is available to reduce it. House Bill 222, sponsored by Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, is intended to make women think twice before getting an abortion and encourage those who get one to request anesthesia for the fetus. Exceptions would be made in emergencies and doctors could tell women their opinion on whether fetuses experience pain at that stage of development.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5767293
Hearings Scheduled for Next Week on Proposed Tenn. Abortion Amendment
Hearings of a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion protections are scheduled for next week. Abortion is protected by the Constitution in Tennessee, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2000. Sen. Diane Black said that ruling keeps the state from enforcing a 48-hour waiting period, mandating informed consent,and requiring second- and third-trimester abortions in a hospital. "The only way we can get back to putting those common-sense protections back into our Constitution is by changing our Constitution," said Black.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/18862754/detail.html
Nebraska Senators Considering Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill
Abortion foes gathered Thursday at the state Capitol to support a bill that would require a doctor performing an ultrasound before an abortion show the woman the image of the fetus. Mairead Safranek, 17, came to ask her state senator, Colby Coash of Lincoln, to vote for the bill (LB675). It would require the woman be shown the image, although she would be allowed to look away. Critics of the ultrasound bills say they’re thinly veiled attempts to make a woman feel bad. They say such medical decisions should be between a doctor and patient.
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2009/03/06/news/doc49b0bb78683bb276463600.txt
Abortion Coercion Bill Gets Initial OK In Missouri House
A bill that would require a 24-hour waiting period for abortions in the state, and mandate those who provide abortions to supply pregnant women with information on alternatives to the controversial practice, was cleared for final passage in the Missouri House of Representatives on Thursday. Thursday's vote, 115-41 in favor of the proposal, indicated the bill has support from more than two-thirds of state representatives, the majority needed in the House to begin overriding a gubernatorial veto, should it occur. Seven representatives did not vote. A similar Senate vote would also be needed to override such a veto, according to the Missouri Constitution.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/03/05/house-gives-first-round-approval-mandate-wait-period-abortions/
Choose Life Plate Passes Utah House
The House passed a bill would create a special license plate saying "Choose Life" Thursday afternoon, and rejected a proposal to create a special license plate saying "Choose Adoption." HB337, sponsored by Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, requires Utahns who buy the Choose Life plate make a $25 annual donation to a Division of Child and Family Services account. The funds will be distributed to organizations that are registered or licensed with the state to provide "young unwed women," Herrod said, with "food, shelter until they have the baby and the baby can be adopted."
http://deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705289042,00.html
