Legislative Updates from Around the Nation...
South Carolina:
No Abortion Coverage in South Carolina's Health Insurance
South Carolina lawmakers voted early this morning to remove abortion coverage from the state health insurance plan.
Legislators spent all night debating the budget bill – six hours were spent on the abortion issue alone.
Opponents wanted a broader "life of the mother" exception, but supporters were able to hold firm and get the measure passed.
Click here for more from CitizenLink.
Kentucky:
Kentucky Abortion Regulation Remains Stalled
Abortion opponents have been dealt a setback in pushing a bill aimed at having Kentucky women see ultrasound images of their fetuses before undergoing abortions. A parliamentary move to pull the bill out of a House committee was ruled out of order Thursday by House Speaker Greg Stumbo. There was no challenge to Stumbo's ruling. Republican Rep. Joe Fischer of Fort Thomas said it would have been futile to challenge the ruling because many lawmakers had already left at the end of the House session. The measure would require doctors to show women seeking abortions the ultrasound images of their fetuses.
Click here for more from WLKY.
Missouri:
Missouri Lawmaker wants women to Five Reason for Abortion Before an Abortion
A state senator wants Missouri to collect information from women about why they choose to have abortions. Legislation by Republican Sen. Tom Dempsey, of St. Peters, would require doctors and clinics to ask women about the specific medical, social or economic reasons for seeking an abortion. Women would not have to respond. Dempsey says it would be useful for policymakers to know if most abortions are sought because of relationship problems, finances, health concerns, a desire to limit family size, or a variety of other reasons. Senators briefly discussed the bill Wednesday without taking a vote. The legislation also would expand the information provided to women during Missouri's 24-hour waiting period before abortions.
Click here for more from Kansas City Fox.
Kansas:
Abortion 'Lawsuit Regulation' Proposed in Kansas
Lawmakers in Kansas are pushing a proposal to allow lawsuits against doctors over legally questionable late-term abortions. Three senators and three House members met Thursday to negotiate a new version of legislation that rewrites state laws dealing with late-term abortions. They had been focusing on increasing requirements for doctors to report information to the state about late-term abortions. But the House's lead negotiator, Rep. Melvin Neufeld, an Ingalls Republican, also proposed reviving provisions to allow a woman — or her family — to sue a doctor if there is evidence that her late-term abortion violated the law.
Click here for more from KansasCity.com
