Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New Hampshire's Anti-Abortion Bill Slightly Relaxed
AP: Exception Added To New Hampshire's 24-Week Abortion Ban
New Hampshire’s ban on late-term abortion no longer applies in cases in which the fetus has been diagnosed with “abnormalities incompatible with life.” Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill Friday adding an exception to the ban on abortions after 24 weeks gestation that took effect Jan. 1. The ban, which Sununu had signed into law as part of the state budget, previously had exceptions only for pregnancies that threaten the mother’s life or health. It also required ultrasounds to be performed before any abortion, but the bill signed Friday limited that requirement. (Ramer, 5/27)
Politico: Austin Pushing To Effectively Decriminalize Abortion Ahead Of Ruling On Roe
The city of Austin is attempting to shield its residents from prosecution under a Texas law that would criminalize almost all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned — the first push by a major city in a red state to try to circumvent state abortion policy. Councilmember Chito Vela is proposing a resolution that would direct the city’s police department to make criminal enforcement, arrest and investigation of abortions its lowest priority and restrict city funds and city staff from being used to investigate, catalogue or report suspected abortions. (Messerly, 5/30)
Bloomberg: Wyoming’s Only Surgical Abortion Clinic Will Open Despite Arson
The only abortion clinic in Wyoming to offer surgical procedures will open as planned after a suspected arson fire damaged the premises, its sponsoring agency said Friday. The clinic -- located in Casper, the state’s largest city -- was set ablaze May 24. There were no injuries. “Based on our initial assessment, we expect the necessary repairs to delay our opening by at least several weeks,” said Julie Burkhart, founder of Wellspring Health Access. (Del Giudice, 5/27)
Stateline: State Courts Could Overturn Abortion Bans In Red States
If the federal right to abortion is erased by the U.S. Supreme Court in a few weeks as expected, the legal spotlight will shift immediately to state courts, where experts say judges in some conservative states could surprise everyone and uphold the right to abortion. “Hundreds of attorneys for abortion advocates across the country are no doubt poised to go into state courts to block enforcement of multiple state abortion laws the minute the decision comes down,” said Clarke Forsythe, senior counsel at Americans United for Life, which opposes abortion. “There will be attempts in all but a few states to create the equivalent of Roe v. Wade.” (Vestal, 5/27)
Dallas Morning News: Some North Texas Clergy Say Helping Abortion Patients Travel A ‘Powerful’ Experience
Months before the U.S. Supreme Court leak revealed that the nation’s highest court was poised to overturn the landmark abortion case Roe vs. Wade, the Rev. Daniel Kanter was among the Texas faith leaders working to help those grappling with the state’s own restrictions on abortion. In wake of Senate Bill 8, the six-week ban that went into effect on Sept. 1, some North Texas clergy have sought to help those in the region obtain abortions. The new Texas law was considered the nation’s most restrictive until Oklahoma enacted a tougher law last week. For Kanter’s First Unitarian Church of Dallas, the history of abortion rights actvisim can be traced back to the beginings of Roe vs. Wade, which was decided in 1973. All along, the church has helped continue the tradition of providing a haven to those who believe abortion is a fundamental right. Six years ago, Kanter created a multifaith chaplaincy program in which chaplains would go to Southwestern Women’s Surgical in Dallas to provide spiritual counsel and affirmation to those who obtained abortions there. (Hollers, 5/31)
AP: US State Legislators Praise Abortion Access In Mexico
A group of U.S. state legislators from Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and North Carolina toured Mexico and said this week they are impressed by efforts to expand abortion access south of the border. The legislators visited the country’s three largest cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey to meet with activists and Mexican legislators. (5/28)
