Wis., Pa., Ariz. lawmakers seek further abortion regulation

Jun 7 2013

Add lawmakers in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona to the long list of states seeking to further restrict and regulate the availability of abortions.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bill Would Require An Ultrasound Before An Abortion
An ultrasound would be required before an abortion under a bill moving through the Legislature, and clinics that perform the procedure would need admitting privileges at a nearby hospital -- a provision that has threatened to shut down clinics in other states. "The ultrasound is the gold standard of medical decision-making," Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) said during her testimony Wednesday before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. "The intent of the legislation is to strengthen the informed-consent law" (Phillis, 6/5). 

Philadelphia Inquirer: Corbett To Sign Bill Banning Abortion Coverage In Obamacare Exchanges
Women in Pennsylvania will have the right to choose insurance through the state health exchange, but it won't extend to abortion. … The state Senate on Wednesday voted 31-19 to approve House Bill 818, which prohibits insurance policies offered through Pennsylvania's upcoming health-care insurance exchanges from offering abortion coverage. The bill, which already passed in the House, goes to Gov. Corbett (Wilson, 6/5).

Arizona Republic: Abortion-Clinic Regulations Urged
An influential conservative advocacy group is pushing last-minute legislation to further regulate abortion clinics. The Center for Arizona Policy, which has written nearly all legislation restricting abortions in recent years, will call on lawmakers at a rally today to allow the Arizona Department of Health Services to conduct unannounced inspections of abortion clinics (Rau, 6/5).