Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Critics Respond After Georgia Governor Signs Restrictive Fetal Heartbeat Bill: 'We Will See You, Sir, In Court'
The Associated Press: Opponents Of Georgia Abortion Ban Promise Court Challenge
Opponents of a Georgia law banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected vow to take their fight from the state Capitol to the courthouse. Signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, the measure is one of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws and would effectively ban the procedure around six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. (Nadler, 5/8)
The Washington Post: Georgia Governor Signs ‘Heartbeat Bill,’ Giving The State One Of The Most Restrictive Abortion Laws In The Nation
Separately, the Alabama Senate is poised to vote this week on legislation that could become the nation’s strictest abortion law, making it a felony to receive an abortion, with no exception for rape or incest. In a countermove, lawmakers in a growing number of states are racing to amend state constitutions to provide a backstop for the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established a woman’s right to an abortion. (Wax-Thibodeaux and Cha, 5/7)
The Hill: Abortion Battles Heat Up With Kavanaugh On Supreme Court
Abortion rights advocates and opponents are racing to pass some of the most aggressive laws in recent history as each side prepares for coming legal fights that are likely to culminate in a new challenge to Roe v. Wade. Those involved in the fight say Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation last year has spurred both sides to action. (Wilson, 5/7)
The Associated Press: Wisconsin Republicans Defend Born-Alive Abortion Bill
Wisconsin Republicans moved quickly Tuesday to advance a bill that would require abortion providers to care for babies who survive abortion attempts or face prison, pushing it through a public hearing and preparing for a floor vote as early as next week. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke and Senate President Roger Roth urged the Assembly Health Committee to pass the bill during the hearing, saying it would leave no doubt that health care providers must do everything they can to keep babies alive if they are born during a failed abortion attempt. (Richmond, 5/7)
The Washington Post: Non-Doctors Can Perform First-Trimester Abortions In Virginia, Federal Judge Rules
Requiring a doctor to perform most abortions in Virginia violates the Constitution, a federal judge in Richmond ruled Monday. The decision from U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson is a victory for abortion rights advocates locally and nationally, who have long argued that first-trimester abortions are simple and safe enough to be performed without a physician. (Weiner and Vozzella, 5/7)
Texas Tribune: Texas Senate Passes Ban On "Discriminatory" Abortions And Removes Some Exceptions Allowing The Procedure After 20 Weeks Of Pregnancy
The Texas Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would ban abortions on the basis of sex, race, or disability status, and criminalize doctors who perform so-called “discriminatory abortions.” Current law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but there are certain exceptions such as when a fetus is unviable or has "severe and irreversible" abnormalities. (Sundaram, 5/7)
The Associated Press: Lawmaker Vows To 'Do Better' After Abortion Clinic Video
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker who has drawn criticism for a recording of himself berating a woman who was protesting abortion outside a Philadelphia clinic promised Tuesday to "do better." Democratic state Rep. Brian Sims posted a two-minute video on Twitter that said "two wrongs don't make a right." (Scolforo, 5/7)
