This was just sent to me from the Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta. Those naughty boys at the State Capitol are at it again. They want to require that all abortions are performed in a hospital. Problem is... very few hospitals in Georgia (or anywhere else) will allow them to be performed.
Abortion may be legal, you just can’t get one here if the Senate Hawks get their way.What: With less than 24 hours notice, a bill to restrict abortions after 20 weeks has been replaced by a bill that would prohibit all abortions in any facility other than a hospital. No other state has this law. Tomorrow morning, the Senate Rules committee will be voting on this sweeping legislation. This unprecedented maneuver was achieved with the first appearance of Senate “Hawks,” or Senators appointed by leadership to appear in committees to which they are not current members in order to change the outcome of a vote.
When: 10:00, Friday morning March 11, 2011
Where: Room 450 of the State Capitol, the Senate Rules Committee
Who: All members of the press and pro-choice activists are encouraged to attend
Details: Yesterday, the Senate Rules committee met to discuss SB 209, a bill to ban abortion in Georgia after 20 weeks. (In a highly unusual maneuver, the bill was assigned to the Senate Rules committee as a substantive bill to discuss and pass, much like bills are assigned to the Judiciary Committee. It will then have to pass out of the Rules Committee again to make it to the Senate Floor.) After some testimony, the Chairman decided to continue the meeting the following day. Upon convening today, the committee was told that SB 210 would be heard, as well as a new substitute to SB 209. Majority Leader Chip Rogers invited Senator Charlie Bethel to participate on the committee in the same manner of the ‘Hawk System’ that was used in the House years ago. SB 210 which allows trial lawyers to sue for ‘wrongful death’ after an abortion and win larger verdicts from doctors passed.
The new substitute to SB 209, by Senator Barry Loudermilk, was seen for the first time during committee. It would prohibit abortions from being performed in any facility other than a hospital.
Nationally, 95 per cent of all abortions are performed in private doctor’s offices, licensed surgical centers and clinics. Most hospitals only provide abortions under emergency circumstances. If the Senate has their way, abortion will be legal in Georgia, but good luck finding a facility that can perform one under this new law.
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Contact: Janelle Yamarick or Nancy Boothe
Feminist Women's Health Center
1924 Cliff Valley Way NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
v: 404.248.5445
f: 404.417.0878
Apparently, the Catholic Arch Diocese is behind it. How about this for an amendment: "If the woman seeking an abortion was impregnated by a Priest – the hospital must provide psychiatric assistance!"
The crazy just keeps getting crazier.
UPDATE: Friday at 10:00 am. From Planned Parenthood:
RIGHT NOW: Georgia Senate Effectively Illegalizing Abortion in GAFrom Planned Parenthood of Georgia : With less than 24 hours notice, a bill to restrict abortions after 20 weeks has been replaced by a bill that would prohibit all abortions in any facility other than a hospital. No other state has such legislation.
Nationally, 95% of all abortions are performed in private doctor’s offices. Most hospitals only provide abortions under emergency circumstances. This legislation would force many providers to close—and may drive some women to seek terminations through unsafe, potentially life-threatening means.
This unprecedented move was not without trickery: the leadership of the committee used what’s known as the Senate ‘Hawk system’: where Senators are appointed by leadership to appear in committees to which they are not current members in order to change the outcome of a vote.
TODAY at 10:00 a.m. the Senate Rules committee will vote on this sweeping legislation.
WE NEED YOU to contact members of the Senate Rules committee and tell them this is dangerous legislation for Georgia.
To send an automatically generated e-mail or fax, please click HERE
If you prefer to call these members, the numbers to their offices are listed below:SENATE RULES COMMITTEE: OFFICE PHONE NUMBERS
Senator Don Balfour, Chairman: 404-656-0095
Senator Bill Hamrick, Vice Chairman: 404-656-0036
Senator Jeff Mullis, Secretary: 404-656-0057
Senator John Bulloch: 404-656-0040
Senator Gloria Butler: 404-656-0075
Senator Steve Henson: 404-656-0085
Senator Jack Hill: 404-656-5038
Senator George Hooks: 404-656-0065
Senator Chip Rogers: 404-463-1378
Senator Mitch Seabaugh: 404-656-6446
Senator David Schafer: 404-656-0048
Senator Ross Tolleson: 404-656-0081
Senator Renee Unterman: 404-463-1368
Senator Tommie Williams: 404-656-0089
Senator Bill Cowsert: 404-463-1383
Senator Greg Goggans: 404-463-5263
Senator Cecil Staton: 404-656-5039Thank you for taking the time to stand with us against this dangerous legislation.
UPDATE X 2: Saner heads prevailed and bill was tabled in committee.
http://www.ajc.com/...