With two days left in the legislative session, the Republican-held Florida Senate passed a controversial amendment 22-17 Wednesday requiring women who are seeking abortions to pay for ultrasound exams, using legislative maneuvering to deliver an election-year victory to religious conservatives.
The ultrasound requirement would apply to first-trimester abortions, which make up more than 90 percent of abortions in Florida. Ultrasounds are already required in late-term abortions that are performed after the first trimester.
Women could refuse to view the ultrasound image after filling out a form. Exceptions to the ultrasound requirement are provided to victims of rape, incest and domestic violence — but they would have to provide proof.
It appears that there was actually a woman that voted for this piece of legislation. Sen. Ronda Storms ( Rep - you're shocked, I know ) voted for this and I'm seriously questioning her ability to thing outside of her little ideological box.
But, all hope is not lost. Courtesy of the House Dems in Florida, all bills have stopped because of this measure.
The Democrats will refuse to take a final vote on any bills today unless Republican leaders promise not to take up and hear the bill, House Democrats spokesman Mark Hollis said.
House GOP leaders need the 44 Democrats’ votes to roll over some bills so that they can be voted on. So far, the Dems have already blocked that from happening on one item.
More from stevesmill at DailyKos.
Here's what I don't get. Conservatives think they can legislate the female reproductive system into abject slavery. The sad truth of the matter is that they have been largely successful on many fronts.
And what of this "proof" that is required if you are raped or a victim of incest. I'm entirely sure how a "rape kit" works ( and the woman would probably have to pay for that too ) but what would the hospital accept as "proof"? This is just simply disgusting on multiple levels.
It's a longstanding talking-point that anyone that is pro-choice wants to have unfettered access to abortion - abortion on demand. This, as should easily be recognized, is not only patently false, but demonstrably ignorant of the facts. No liberal/progressive woman sits around thinking to herself, "gee, I sure would love to get pregnant so I can have an abortion".
A woman's choice to have an abortion is not one taken lightly - ever. This new measure that Florida conservatives are trying to force upon the women of the state serves no greater purpose than to inflate their own sense of self. Imagine the woman who tried to show proof she was raped and was forced to see the child inside her.
Unbelievable.
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