Virginia Senate passes controversial ultrasound bill

State Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fiarfax, front, stands as she presents a number of amendments to the ultrasound bill during debate on the floor of the Senate at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Steve Helber

The Virginia state Senate on Tuesday narrowly approved legislation requiring women to undergo a transabdominal ultrasound prior to having an abortion.

The legislation passed 21-19, mostly along party lines, and comes after the state's Republican governor asked for a change to an earlier effort to require transvaginal ultrasounds that was roundly criticized.

Two Democrats, Charles Cogan and Phillip Puckett, joined most Republicans in supporting the modified proposal, which Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected to sign. One Republican, state Senator John Watkins, voted against it.

The bill sparked national debate last week over a provision that would have required many women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds, which opponents decry as medically unnecessary and physically invasive. After McDonnell requested that mandate be stripped, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a revised version that allows women to "reject" the recommendation of a transvaginal ultrasound.

Virginia Democrats and women's health advocates continue to decry the measure despite the changes, arguing that ultrasound mandates in general are politically motivated and aimed at whittling away abortion rights.

"Tens of thousands of Virginian's have made their voices heard on this intrusive government mandate that forces a woman to have a medical procedure without her consent," said Delegate Charniele Herring, House Democratic Whip and Chair of the Reproductive Health Caucus, said in a statement.

She added: "Playing politics with women's health and women's rights is abhorrent. Conducting a war on women to move forward an extremist agenda and pacify a far-right base is the reason the conversation about Virginia has moved from talking about being the best place to do business and raise a child to a conversation full of late-night jokes."

The Democratic Party of Virginia added its voice to the opposition, blasting the bill as "humiliating" and an embarrassment to Virginians; the women's health organization NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia called it "an unprecedented invasion into the living rooms and doctors' offices of Virginia women and clearly interferes with the doctor-patient relationship."

McDonnell last week said he called for amendments to the bill because advisers had warned him it could be legally problematic, but emphasized his continued support for the concept.

"I got legal advice from various people, including my attorney general, that these kinds of mandatory invasive requirements might run afoul of Fourth Amendment law," McDonnell said in a Politico panel on Friday. "Those were the reasons."

"I support the bill. I still support the bill. That never forfeits a governor's rights to make amendments," he said.

[tlcasey]

Here is a link to an essay I wrote as a Virginian in response to the Senate's passage of this overreaching legislation:
http://rvamag.com/articles/full/14008/what-i-have-learned-today
The progress of this offensive legislation only further fuels my disappointment in our legislative and political process.

[Jahzera]

This will end up in the Supreme Court and be deemed unconstitutional.

[Molly-Pchr]

If making women use pills to alter their natural hormonal rhythms and abort babies in their wombs isn't "war on women" and an "extremist agenda" then I don't know what is.

[Molly-Pchr]

slownewsday, I think I said that. Don't you see the word "pills"? Getting a little punchy, aren't you?

[larrylinn1]

I think that it would be a good idea if the women in Virginia propose a law requiring any woman going through this legislative rape provide the names of any state official whom she had sex with, and require those officials named to be tested for DNA, to determine if it matches the fetus.

[P0STING_AWAY]

by Bombastic-Left February 28, 2012 7:17 PM EST
The tide is starting to turn as Americans are getting more information about the atrocity ........................
===================================================
I have news for you, Sparky.
The thinking people of this country are going to rise up
and stomp you M0R0NGELICAL christians into the ground.

[kansas1946]

"Tens of thousands of Virginian's have made their voices heard on this intrusive government mandate that forces a woman to have a medical procedure without her consent," said Delegate Charniele Herring, House Democratic Whip and Chair of the Reproductive Health Caucus, said in a statement.
************************

Well, all that those "tens of thousands" of Virginians that understand that Republicans are lunatics, need to get busy and make sure they don't get re-elected. Open your wallets, make sure you vote and get everyone to the polls that are like-minded and make sure the young women know what they are about to lose if they don't get off of their duffs and start protecting themselves.

[Jaylah54]

Oh sure. Essentially r*pe a woman wanting an abortion with a phallic-shaped wand before allowing her to do so.

This should work especially well in cases where the woman is pregnant because she got r*ped in the first place.

Never mind that the stupid Virginia politicians have already been told that this law wouldn't stand up in the Supreme Court.

[P0STING_AWAY]

by TeaPartyNation__ February 28, 2012 5:42 PM EST
Va. Senate passes controversial ultrasound bill
...FYI: the word "controversial" means that the lunatic-left d-cRAT socialists and their stooges and puppets in the socialist media do not support it.
You're welcome.
=================================================
You lowlife cretin.
YOU are welcome to leave this country and go join your
brethren, the Taliban, in Pakistan.
Take all of your M0R0NGELICAL christian friends with you.

[elliesamericana]

Truly a sad day for Virginia. This is not just an incursion on women's rights, but also a loss of rights for their husbands, partners, fathers, brothers, etc. I cannot believe even republicans would force unnecessary tests upon patients. Virginia was on my shortlist of final states to retire, but now I'm thinking Oregon or Washington state. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Your reply makes it really hard to believe you have any educational background whatsoever. The Army Doc did not say an ultrasound was invasive, just unnecessary. Glad to see he is back posting. I think he gave up for a while with all the ignorant posts on these discussion boards. BTW, in reading his past posts I can attest he has plenty of medical background.

[rjstolb]

WHERE ARE THE WOMEN OF VIRGINIA???!!!?!?!? dOES THIS MEAN YOU agree WITH THIS INVASION OF YOUR RIGHTS??????