Monday, February 4, 2013
Abortion Court date nears on abortion legislation; church guns advance
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 2:07 PM
The Arkansas House today voted 75-20 in favor of a ban on abortions in or after the 20th week of pregnancy, a prohibition supposedly justified by the contested theory of pain caused to the fetus. Similar bills have been adopted and challenged in court in other states. A lawsuit is likely here if the Senate approves the House bill, which it is expected to do.
No exception for rape and incest, only to save the life of a woman or to "avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman, not including psychological or emotional conditions."
The House also voted 77-15 for the bill to ban coverage of abortions in federally created health insurance exchanges. The state, in other words, is injecting itself in private payments to a private business.
ALSO, A WORD ABOUT GUNS AND CHURCH:
The bill to allow guns in church (at the church's discretion) passed the House 85-8. It will go back to the Senate to add sponsors, then go to the governor for his signature. The elite eight: C. Armstrong, Hodges, Julian, Love, Murdock, Sabin, H. Wilkins, Word.
I think a bill that leaves it up to guesswork of a visitor on whether guns are allowed on premises is a shoddily written piece of legislation that will present future legal problems. But, then, I think an overabundance of guns presents problems more than it solves and the research tends to back it up.
Speaking of Abortion, fetal Pain
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UA prof writes on the 'junk science' of 20-week abortion bans
May 24, 2013Here's a valuable piece of writing for Science Progress from the classrooms of the University of Arkansas by Dr. Lisa Corrigan, co-chair of the gender studies program of the Fulbright College. /more/
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Mississippi aims to jail women for stillbirths, miscarriages
May 23, 2013As a result of what Dr. Joycelyn Elders once memorably called a "love affair with the fetus," Mississippi has embarked on a path to prosecute some women in cases of stillbirth or miscarriage. /more/
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Appeals court strikes down 20-week abortion ban
May 21, 2013The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down the Arizona law that put a ban on abortions beginning with the 20th week of pregnancy. /more/
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Stormy morning: Shoffner, hospitals, abortion
May 21, 2013A morning report as Arkansas watches the stormy skies: * THE STATE TREASURER WATCH: Can Martha Shoffner really return to work today as state treasurer, overseeing billions in state investments, after admitting to FBI agents that she wrongfully accepted a pie stuffed with a cash kickback from a securities salesman she inordinately favored with state business? /more/
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Practicing law with Bro. Rapert
May 18, 2013Sen. Jason Rapert, author of the patently unconstitutional bill to ban most abortions in Arkansas at the 12th week of pregnancy, took heart yesterday at Judge Susan Webber Wright's indication that she was inclined to uphold the part of the law that requires women seeking an abortion in the 12th week of pregnancy or later to have an ultrasound and to be shown the results of that test. /more/
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Judge Wright issues injunction against abortion law
May 17, 2013The word from the federal courthouse is that federal Judge Susan Webber Wright has issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the new Arkansas law that was meant to bar most abortions at the 12th week of pregnancy. /more/
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Women's rights in court this morning
May 17, 2013Leslie Newell Peacock will be in federal court for us this morning for the preliminary injunction hearing on the lawsuit challenging the new state law prohibiting most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. /more/
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Guns and fetuses: A legislative review
May 16, 2013Crazy Davy Carter, the House speaker who is a potential Republican candidate for governor, won headlines all over today for remarks at a legislative conference in Hot Springs that Republicans need to move beyond guns and abortion to focus on issues more important to average Arkies. /more/
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Judge refuses to dismiss suit challenging new 12-week abortion limit
May 15, 2013Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright has denied the state of Arkansas's motion to dismiss the ACLU-backed lawsuit challenging the new state law, passed over Gov. Mike Beebe's veto, to prevent most abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. /more/
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Morning report: Prescription drug watch
May 13, 2013The morning again begins slowly. But among others: * MONITORING DOCTORS' PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES: Pro Publica has published with the Washington Post a deep look at doctors' prescription practices under Medicare. /more/
- More »
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