Texas Passes Bill to Require Sonograms Before Abortions

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

HOUSTON — In a victory for anti-abortion advocates, Texas will join the ranks of states that require doctors to perform a sonogram before conducting an abortion.

Gov. Rick Perry, a conservative Republican, made the bill, which the Legislature passed on Thursday, a priority and is expected to sign it. The bill requires a doctor to conduct a sonogram at least 24 hours before an abortion and to give the woman the opportunity to see the results and hear the heartbeat of the fetus. Though the woman can choose not to view the images and hear the heartbeat, the doctor must describe what the sonogram shows, including the existence of legs, arms and internal organs.

“This will be one of the strongest pieces of sonogram legislation in the nation,” the bill’s author, Representative Sid Miller, a Republican from Stephenville, told reporters. Mr. Miller predicted the measure would “save numerous unborn lives.”

Because the measures passed both houses of the Legislature with a two-thirds majority, it will go into effect as soon as the governor signs it.

At least three other states have similar laws, and Oklahoma passed a bill last year requiring a doctor to provide a detailed oral description of the embryo, but a court has temporarily stayed that measure pending a lawsuit. Opponents say the bill is designed to dissuade women from seeking abortions, and they argue that the state should not interfere with the relationship between a doctor and patient.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/us/politics/06sonogram.html?_r=4&partner=rss&emc=rss

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ditto in FL. It's not like we have real issues to deal with (you know, budget shortfalls, high unemployment rates, etc.) so the legislature focused on legislating morality. Good thing they did that after they passed an emergency measure to legalize accepting bribes.

[Nina~ 431]

I hope the state will be footing the bill for those sonograms!

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Too bad no sonogram can show if a child is likely to grow up to be a RWN Texas State legislator...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I hope the state will be footing the bill for those sonograms!

That will be part of the cost of the abortion which the state isn't allowed to fund. How about that?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[Danno 1,228]

Surely having more information is a good thing, I mean we have all type of laws which insure people know what they are getting into when they get a loan, buy a car or house or even down load an app.

Many of these expectant mothers are so young they could not even sign a contract or vote.

Why would anyone not insist she have all the information before such a decision is acted upon?

This is just common sense awareness, If I were writing a bill, I would require the aborted remains go home with the customer rather than have them pitched in a dumpster.

TEXAS- The progressive State.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Rubbish law.

[^_^ 5,021]

This is just common sense awareness, If I were writing a bill, I would require the aborted remains go home with the customer rather than have them pitched in a dumpster.

[The Dude 206]

Surely having more information is a good thing, I mean we have all type of laws which insure people know what they are getting into when they get a loan, buy a car or house or even down load an app.

Many of these expectant mothers are so young they could not even sign a contract or vote.

Why would anyone not insist she have all the information before such a decision is acted upon?

This is just common sense awareness, If I were writing a bill, I would require the aborted remains go home with the customer rather than have them pitched in a dumpster.

TEXAS- The progressive State.

Do you really think that women don't know what they are getting into when they make the decision to have an abortion? Are you so deluded that you think women don't read up on what they are putting themselves through? Looks like you're the one who needs more information Danno.

What a great idea, lets force these women to scrutinize their choice, while a condescending doctor shows them a video and pulls at their heartstrings. In this day and age, do people really not know what an abortion entails?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Do you really think that women don't know what they are getting into when they make the decision to have an abortion? Are you so deluded that you think women don't read up on what they are putting themselves through? Looks like you're the one who needs more information Danno.

What a great idea, lets force these women to scrutinize their choice, while a condescending doctor shows them a video and pulls at their heartstrings. In this day and age, do people really not know what an abortion entails?

Danno probably thinks it's akin to ordering an omelette.

[eekee 182]

Let's not forget that requiring a sonogram 24 hours before makes obtaining an abortion immeasurably more difficult for women who live far away from the nearest abortion clinic and cannot afford to take several days off work.

And only information I need to know, Danno, is

BABY: DO NOT WANT.

Edited May 9, 2011 by eekee

[Danno 1,228]

Do you really think that women don't know what they are getting into when they make the decision to have an abortion? Are you so deluded that you think women don't read up on what they are putting themselves through? Looks like you're the one who needs more information Danno.

What a great idea, lets force these women to scrutinize their choice, while a condescending doctor shows them a video and pulls at their heartstrings. In this day and age, do people really not know what an abortion entails?

-Why do you keep using the term "women" when you know hundreds of thousands a year are

girls"... some in middle school. The law cannot assume these young people have all the facts, this law goes toward providing some.

-Why are you always against people having information?

[Little_My 464]

Surely having more information is a good thing, I mean we have all type of laws which insure people know what they are getting into when they get a loan, buy a car or house or even down load an app.

Many of these expectant mothers are so young they could not even sign a contract or vote.

Why would anyone not insist she have all the information before such a decision is acted upon?

This is just common sense awareness, If I were writing a bill, I would require the aborted remains go home with the customer rather than have them pitched in a dumpster.

TEXAS- The progressive State.

The Republicans of this country get all upset and on barricades whenever there is a threat of "the government invading the privacy of an individual person's life and/or home" - because, after all, what goes on in one's home is none of the state's business.

However, apparently it is perfectly fine for the state to interfere with a woman's uterus and actually with the rest of her living life, since having a child is a commitment for a life time. It is perfectly fine for the state to order the woman to have a sonogram before being able to get an abortion, it os perfectly OK for the state to pressure women out of their personal decisions, it is perfectly OK to suddenly mix religion with politics when it comes to this particular matter, even though there supposedly is such a thing as "separation of church and state" in this country. It is perfectly fine for the state to tell women that abortion is not acceptable, while at the same time the state is not willing to offer any kind of support, financial or social, to expecting mothers in terms of maternity leave, maternity benefits, or job security.

Yep. Sounds progressive to me.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Little_My

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

-Why do you keep using the term "women" when you know hundreds of thousands a year are

girls"... some in middle school. The law cannot assume these young people have all the facts, this law goes toward providing some.

-Why are you always against people having information?

Who says that the girls having the abortions aren't being given the information they need to make an informed decision? Do you think they are somehow incapable of understanding the implications of unplanned pregnancy and arrived at the abortion clinic to get their hair and nails done?

You really are ridiculous.