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Virginia House Dems move to force vote on GOP delegate’s anti-abortion bill [1]

['Graham Moomaw', 'More From Author', '- February']

Date: 2024-02-08

A freshman GOP delegate’s attempt to cut off public funding for abortions in Virginia with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother wouldn’t usually be the type of thing to make it to a full vote in the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates.

But in a rare procedural maneuver, Democratic leaders are planning to put the bill to a full vote next week in what appears to be an effort to force all 49 of the chamber’s Republicans to take a public stance on a measure that has no chance of actually becoming law.

In a statement Thursday, House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said he was making the move “so that Virginians know exactly what their representatives choose to do with the power granted to them by their constituents.”

“Republicans in the General Assembly introduced multiple pieces of legislation to restrict access to reproductive healthcare,” Scott said. “Voters have shown time and time again where they stand on this vital issue and it is only right that their representatives do the same.”

Under current law, public funds can be used to pay for abortions for low-income women on Medicaid in cases of rape, incest,“incapacitating” fetal abnormalities and when the mother’s life is at risk from continuing the pregnancy.

The legislation — sponsored by Del. Tim Griffin, R-Bedford — is a sweeping attempt to cut off public funding not only to organizations such as Planned Parenthood that provide abortion services but also to any hospital or other facility “at which abortion services are provided.”

The bill specifically repeals two longstanding sections of state law allowing public funds to be used to fund abortions for low-income women in cases of rape and incest and when doctors certify the fetus has a “gross and totally incapacitating” physical or mental abnormality. Griffin’s bill does not include an exception allowing such abortions when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

Griffin’s office did not immediately respond Thursday afternoon to a request for comment on the Democrats’ push to spotlight his bill.

Democrats initiated the move to bring the bill to the floor at a meeting of the House Rules Committee Thursday morning. The committee voted 12-6 to bring the bill straight to the floor, with Democrats overriding Republican opposition.

At that meeting, House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, seemed to recognize the scope of the bill would pose political problems for his caucus. Gilbert said he believed the intent of the bill was to replicate the federal Hyde Amendment that clarifies under what conditions public dollars can be used to fund abortions.

“I don’t believe it includes the Hyde Amendment exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” Gilbert said of Griffin’s bill.

Gilbert attempted to add those exceptions to the bill, but Democrats overruled him.

“We can deal with this on the floor,” said Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax.

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[1] Url: https://virginiamercury.com/2024/02/08/virginia-house-dems-move-to-force-vote-on-gop-delegates-anti-abortion-bill/

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