Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Vermont Lawmakers Advance Measure To Guarantee Abortion Rights
The Washington Post: Vermont Moves Forward On Becoming First State To Guarantee The Right To Abortion With A Constitutional Amendment
Vermont lawmakers voted Tuesday to move forward on a constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right to abortion and contraception, the first amendment of its kind in the United States. The Vermont House voted 107 to 41 for the proposed amendment, known as Proposition 5. It now heads to Gov. Phil Scott (R), who has signaled his support for the measure and is required to give public notice before it appears on the ballot in November. Voters in Vermont, where 70 percent of people say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, are expected to approve it. (Kitchener, 2/8)
In updates on abortion rights in Missouri and Wisconsin —
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri Supreme Court Finds Ashcroft Abortion Maneuver Unconstitutional
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft used an unconstitutional set of laws to derail a 2019 effort to roll back newly approved abortion restrictions, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In a 5-2 decision, the judges said Ashcroft used the laws to shorten the time frame needed to collect signatures required for a ballot initiative sought by opponents of the restrictive abortion law. (Erickson, 2/8)
AP: Wisconsin GOP Looks To Block Abortions If Heartbeat Detected
Wisconsin Republicans have introduced a bill that would prohibit abortions in the state if a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill would prohibit anyone from performing or attempting to perform an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is present unless the pregnant woman’s life is in danger or she could suffer irreversible physical problems from the pregnancy. If a provider detects a heartbeat the pregnant woman would be required to listen to it. (Richmond, 2/8)
In related news about abortion —
AP: Appeals Court Rules In Biden’s Favor On Abortion Referrals
Federally funded family planning clinics can continue to make abortion referrals for now, a federal court ruled Tuesday, in a setback for a dozen Republican attorneys general who have sued to restore a Trump-era ban on the practice. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati denied a request by the 12 states to pause rules for the federal government’s family planning program while their case is heard. The states were eager to stop implementation before the next round of federal grants starts rolling out in March. (Carr Smyth, 2/9)
Reuters: Abortion Clinics In Liberal U.S. States Expand, Brace For More Patients
Abortion providers in liberal states are expanding clinics, training more staff and boosting travel assistance to prepare for an influx of patients from conservative states if the U.S. Supreme Court ends the constitutional right to the procedure. Planned Parenthood is enlarging several clinics in California and has purchased land to build a bigger clinic in Reno, Nevada. In Illinois, abortion providers have set up a logistics center to help make medical care arrangements for women from states where abortion is expected to be restricted. (Bernstein, 2/8)
