Utah Gearing Up For Anti-Choice Legislation

Via desertnews, Utahn drafts abortion bill.
A conservative Utah state lawmaker who pushed a failed anti-abortion measure earlier this year has plans for another that would instantly ban abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. "The honest reason behind this is, No. 1, I'm just plain flat-out against abortion," said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. Forced pregnancy gets your vote.

Ray is currently drafting the legislation, which would take effect only if the nation's highest court overturns its 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The state must be in a position to act immediately, he said, to prevent a "rush of abortions" in the period of time between the issuance and implementation of any Supreme Court ruling.

Right, cause pregnant women will run for the hills to get abortions they weren't planning on having just because Roe was overturned. Bag-o-douche.

Ray said he was asked by a South Dakota lawmaker to encourage Utah to join in the expected court challenge, but decided that would be going too far and opted instead to run legislation making clear the state's position on abortion.

Ray also plans on bringing back his measure that would require doctors to notify women seeking abortions after 20 weeks that the fetus might feel pain and make available information about options to alleviate such pain. The House of Representatives passed the legislation with a 63-8 vote in the 2006 Legislature, but it stalled in the Senate after doctors testified about the lack of medical consensus on whether fetuses at that stage of pregnancy can feel pain. Ray said Thursday that he intends to reintroduce the bill in the 2007 legislative session, this time with additional evidence to support his position. "I think I've effectively answered the questions, or at least have the doctors that will be able to answer the questions," he said.

Otherwise known as Reich doctors. This sentence is obvious to me. Justlike it was in South Dakota where Governor Mike Rounds requested "doctors" to his Abortion Task Force. They were all anti-choice and answered all questions accordingly.