Breaking News: Legislators can make better health decisions than you can!

Linnea House, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota
Two hearings on abortion this week in the Minnesota House remove all doubt that there is a full-on war against a woman’s right to choose in Minnesota.
Hearing One
On Tuesday night, March, 15, HF 201, an abortion funding ban for low income women in Minnesota, had its first hearing in Rep. Gottwalt’s Health and Human Service Reform Committee. Despite the fact that the bill is unconstitutional, exclusively targets women struggling to make ends meet, and makes one type of health care virtually inaccessible for some women, it was hailed as a “protection of the wishes of the taxpayers.” (Rep. Peggy Scott, chief author of the bill, 3/15/11 testimony)
Rep. Scott claims that her bill does NOT address the right to abortion (the bill that does that, disguised under the cloak of fetal pain, HF 936, was heard the next day) but rather seeks to protect three groups of people: women from the pain of abortion, unborn babies from gratuitous and free abortion, and, finally, the taxpayers.
This singular statement by Rep. Scott sums up two of the largest myths perpetuated by the anti-choice movement. The first myth is that women either regret their abortions or are physically scarred by the procedure. In fact, the majority of women who choose abortion have a variety of emotional reactions but the overwhelming majority of women describe relief. In addition, an elective first trimester abortion is one the safest medical procedures a person can receive, and is far safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and delivering.
But the second myth, and the far more frustrating myth, is the idea of “gratuitous” abortions. It is insulting to all women who have experienced an unintended pregnancy, or needed to end a pregnancy due to medical reasons, to paint women in such a callous and unfeeling manner. To imply that any woman does not understand the magnitude of her decision is patronizing at best, and betrays their true feelings about women- that women cannot make decision on their own.
Despite thoughtful and eloquent testimony by Karen Law of Pro-Choice Resources and Rev. Doug Donley, the night belonged to the anti-choice legislators (primarily freshman), falling over themselves to make their statements, and thanking the MCCL for bringing this bill forward.
Their testimony ranged from Rep. Kathy Lohmer reminding us that Jesus was unintended pregnancy, Rep. Duane Quam wondering why there wasn’t there a fetus testifying tonight (clearly ignorant of the fact that it would physically impossible), Rep. Bob Barrett asking us all to thank our mothers for being pro-life (our public discourse has resorted to bumper sticker slogans? AND my Mom is pro-choice. Thanks Mom!), and the evening ended with Rep. Tara Mack claiming that this wasn’t an attack on a certain segment of the population, but rather a need to set a tone for Minnesota. I’m sure, Rep. Mack, that the women will thank you for voting to support her right to set a “tone” while stripping you of your right to control your own reproductive destiny.
Despite all of this outlandish rhetoric, the award for most out of touch of the evening goes to GOP freshman Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen. “Economically, a nation that kills its unborn children, is a nation that kills its own economic future.” While I thank Rep. Gruenhagen for reminding us that the legislature should be focusing on creating jobs and improving the economy, I think he is missing the point : there are no jobs NOW. Instead of spending the legislature’s precious time on this issue, the TAXPAYERS of Minnesota grow weary waiting for their elected officials to concentrate on fixing the economy.
But I digress. Rep. Gruenhagen called the Doe v. Gomez Minnesota Supreme Court case an activist decision, and therefore unconstitutional. He then called for the impeachment and stripping of benefits for those judges who ruled in favor of the case. Rep. Gruenhagen also blamed abortion rights for the reason why some men abuse women. Finally, Rep. Gruenhagen, at his most condescending moment of the evening, addressed those speaking out against the bill: “So, I would ask you, ladies, from the bottom of my heart, join us on the pro-life side. Help us dismantle these government programs and this culture that sends the message to men to use as many women as possible sexually, and whether you impregnated them or not, you can walk away from them without any consequences.”
That last statement is so outrageous, I don’t even know where to begin. But shortly thereafter, the bill passed out of the committee, on a vote of 13 to 4.
Watch the hearing here: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/programa.asp?ls_year=87&event_id=3471. Go to 2:13:30 to catch only Rep. Gruenhagen.
Hearing Two- Second verse, similar to the first.
On Wednesday afternoon, March 16, we were back in Rep. Gottwalt’s hearing room, this time hearing HF 936, authored by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg. Instead of attacking poor women, this bill is an outright abortion ban on procedures after 20 weeks, less than 2% of all abortions. Even the bill’s authors admitted that there were fewer than 8 procedures of this type performed in Minnesota in 2009, and most were for fatal fetal anomalies.
Despite its deceptive name and nature- this is an abortion ban cloaked as protecting fetuses from feeling pain; it is an outright attack which will prevent women from receiving often life or fertility saving procedures. Not very pro-life, is it?
But no matter, their argument is all about the state knowing what is best, with nary a thought to the women or doctors who should be the ONLY ones making medical decisions.
Even Rep. Holberg, in her introduction of the bill, admitted that without the claims of so-called fetal pain, the bill just makes no sense. No argument here.
As in the hearing the night before, the anti-choice legislators took their opportunity to make outrageous statements supporting the bill, despite not really knowing what they were talking about.
The worst offender of the day goes to Rep. Bob Barrett. In response to a woman’s heartbreaking story of ending her pregnancy due to trisomy 18, a chromosome disorder that is fatal and incompatible with life, Rep. Barrett responds in the worst possible way. He first admits that he cannot even pronounce the fetal anomaly her fetus was afflicted with, and admits that it is an area that a lot of us don’t even know about, but then continues to shame her for her decision.
He says, “I went to an event last year at an organization called Pre-Natal Partners for Life. And they are a large organization that helps women and children in this condition. I had the good fortune to hear from Senator Rick Santorum talk about his personal story of a child that he had with that exact or similar condition. And he did open my eyes to the fact that a lot of these children are born and do live a life past infancy and they are happy kids and they provide joy and love and support, and they are a part of a family. And you obviously made the choice you did. I would like to inform everyone who isn’t aware of this, who isn’t aware of this organization, to check out Pre-Natal Partners for Life, because they have a wonderful organization that helps families in your situation understand this issue that a lot of people don’t understand. These babies are viable, they are important, they are God’s child. Thank you very much.”
Either Rep. Barrett wasn’t listening, or didn’t care, but this woman’s pregnancy was not going to end with a live birth. There was not going to be any life past infancy, there would be no love, joy, and support. What she found instead, was a man, who knows absolutely NOTHING about her or her health, armed with misinformation and half truths, chastising her for her decisions.
Shame on you, Rep. Barrett.
The bill passed out of committee with a majority voice vote.
Shame on Minnesota.