FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nicholas Kessler, 804-381-6647
February 3, 2012 vaprogressivecaucus@gmail.com
VIRGINIA
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS STATEMENT ON HB 62
Bill
Would End State Abortion Coverage In Cases Of Incapacitating Physical Deformity
Richmond - Yesterday, the
Virginia House of Delegates voted to give approval on second reading to HB 62. This
bill would cut off state abortion funding in cases in which a physician
certifies that the fetus would be born with a gross and totally incapacitating
physical deformity or mental deficiency.
The patrons of HB 62 are Del. Mark
Cole (R-Stafford) and Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William).
The Progressive Caucus released
its 2012 agenda in January, including the policy goal of opposing "attacks
on the fetal anomaly exception for Medicaid recipients." The Progressive
Caucus strongly opposes HB 62.
Delegate Charniele Herring
(D-Alexandria) said, "If HB 62 is successful and signed by the Governor,
Virginia will show itself as a state that lacks compassion for the poorest
women among us. It is time to stop beating up on the poor and destroying our
safety net."
Delegate Jennifer McClellan
(D-Richmond) said, "This bill inserts government in the most painful decision
a woman has to make—to terminate a wanted pregnancy that went horribly wrong—and
says if you are poor, we are going to force you to give birth to a child that
will likely not survive."
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