Medically necessary abortions would be defined as those needed to avoid serious risk to the life of the woman under a bill introduced in the Alaska Senate.
The measure, from Senate Majority Leader John Coghill, says the state health department may not pay for abortion services unless they are medically necessary or the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest and the rape or incest was "promptly reported" to law enforcement or public health authorities.
The Alaska Supreme Court has held that the state must fund medically necessary abortions if it funds other procedures deemed medically necessary for people in need. A legislative legal opinion last year, however, said it's not clear what makes an abortion medically necessary, and that it's likely only further litigation will provide greater clarity.
Only allow access to abortions for those that are raped? And only for those where the rape was "promptly reported?" What state does this neanderthal misogynist think he represents?
This is Alaska, where victims of rape and incest are more often than not in tiny villages with only one or two safety officers on hand, and where getting a State Trooper out there can take many hours if not days. And while they wait they are quite likely living with their attacker, if they are victims of incest, or surrounded by the perpetrator's family members who will pressure them into shutting up.
Coghill's proposed bill is an attack on women in this state, especially poor or native women, and should signal the end of his political career for all time.
If you are a woman in Alaska it is time for your voice to be heard loud and clear.
Here is Coghill's contact information. Don't bother trying to be respectful, he certainly has no respect for you.
Give this guy a trans-vaginal ultrasound. Wherever it fits.
ReplyDeleteLow life bastard.
ReplyDeleteThis legislation might be sponsored behind the scenes by Minnery or Jerry Prevo.
What a viciously hateful ass
All of the GOP-led states are in this together. In Michigan the latest is to force women seeking abortions to have a transvaginal ultrasound, not to torment her but because of concern for her "mental capacity." I am alarmed that the medical community in this country is remaining silent on this issue. Doctors should not want male state legislators setting up required medical procedures for women or for anyone. It is dangerous. And I think women have to start simply saying "NO" to men because "I do not want to become pregnant and your use of precautions may not work." Maybe then the men will begin to rethink their craziness.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
The question I always have of these non-linear thinkers is "You ban abortion in all cases... and then what?"
ReplyDeleteThese folks don't realize that they can try to force a woman to have a child she doesn't want, but force will neither make her BE a mother to that child, nor will the pregnancy magically put money in her pocket, take her out of an abusive situation, or rid her of her addictions if that's an issue.
Keeping in mind that the main ones who scream the loudest about ending abortion are the same ones who claim to be 'taxed enough already,'etc. -- do they want to fund warehouse-style orphanages for all the unwanted, abandoned little ones like in Russia or Romania (by the way, have they not read about how 'no abortion under any circumstances' worked out for Ceausescu?) or pay for more social workers or more welfare? I highly doubt it.
So again, get rid of abortion... and then what?
-PJsMum
Once they realize that the state systems are overflowing, they'll just pass some sort of law mandating that the woman keep the child. And they'll dress it up in pretty religious language to get the sheep to go along.
DeleteIt's not about the children. It's about controlling women. They don't really care what happens to the fetus after it's born so long as they can condemn the mother to birthing it.
Truly it was Ceausescu's ban on birth control that made women have over 22 million abortions when there were only 21 million people in Romania. No birth control---but state run abortion clinics.
DeleteInsanity!
Of course these idiots want no birth control and no clinics.
For the most part, those who are so vehemently opposed to abortion are completely unwilling to fund schools, health care, jobs programs, etc. In other words, they love the "unborn" (as Rep. Dave Camp R-MI) calls them but have no interest or respect for those who are "born."
DeleteAfter the election I got a phone call from an anti-abortion group and i asked the young woman on the phone if she supported universal health care, When she replied that she did not, I told her that she clearly had no concern for children, born or unborn, and hung up.
Beaglemom
Not that I have any faith that any comment of mine will change the minds of the Alaskan delegation of Republican Talibaners, but I sent him a politely worded nasty note.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Beaglemom. Lysistrata is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThese men make me sick and fear for any sane future for women in this country. This is all about power. This is all about economics. Poor, uneducated women with a lot of children and no way out have little power. The next step of course is to destroy accsess to birth control itself. They always claim their stance is about the life of the child---until the child is born of course and rendered into a life of poverty and want that they care NOTHING about.
They want no social safety nets for the children they think god wants to be born. But yet they sneak and get their wives and daughters or mistresses abortions--(see Tennessee lawmaker). You know, 'cause most of them are hypocrites.
Rubio: The water-bottle moment was a message from God
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/13/rubio-the-water-bottle-moment-was-a-message-from-god/
Somebody quick find the original testimony of the public health nurses from Fairbanks who described the deaths of women at the hands of back alley butchers. Does this genius really think that banning abortion will end abortion? He really thinks it is possible to legislate morality?
ReplyDelete"the rape or incest was "promptly reported" to law enforcement or public health authorities"
ReplyDelete-----------
This means that the state of Alaska will force a 12 year old girl to carry to term and birth a baby... because she wasn't PROMPT enough in reporting the rape. Because, of course, rape victims are GUILTY.
Having figured out that the term "legitimate" rate is taboo, this moron lawmaker is trying out "prompt report" rape. A new low in stupidity and cruelty.
ReplyDeleteEach time, I puzzle over this obsession with women's baby issues. Rather than an obsession with JOBS or SERVICES or equitable TAXES or even -- this is just too radical, I guess -- with legislating against the MEN WHO GET WOMEN PREGNANT when it is inappropriate, or when they don't want to be.
ReplyDeleteThat guy's hands look exactly like Wallow's mitts. Look at those stubby sausage fingers. Is this dude one of Sarah Palin's former fuck-buddies, um, I mean, political allies? You just don't see hands like that all the time. He's not a Menard because his teeth are so bad. Of course, I should probable look at Creepy Chuckies 1&2 before I make a final judgement. Those two are always among the usual suspects anytime a Heath or Palin girl is knocked up. In the valley, many say that these people just wanna keep 'the good stuff' in the family.
ReplyDeleteNo accusations, just a history review, based on facts and observations.
I can see Russia through the gap in this asshole, Coghill's teeth.
ReplyDeleteOne question: why are the women of voting age in Alaska letting this happen?
ReplyDeleteAt least they have notice. In some states, such as Kansas, the voters find out too late to put pressure on their elected officials on issues such as this. The media is virtually silent and many states do not have dedicated bloggers such as Gryphen.
Thanks,, Gyphen, for staying on top of important issues and giving the voters a fightiing chance to change things!
And in Texas GOP news, it is amazing that the religious fascists are so opposed to sex education in public schools...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.geekosystem.com/man-tries-to-impregnate-horse/
another republican who wants to be the one between the pregnant woman and her doctor. what a loser!
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice to study your post. I collect some good points here. I would like to be appreciative you with the hard work you have made in skill this is great article. _ Revoluza Signup
ReplyDeleteTodd's buddy, no doubt!
DeleteIs there not sovereign nations in Alaska? And if yes, these nations can pretty much do whatever they want on their land....like build abortion clinics?
ReplyDeleteScrew the white man!!!
you folks do understand that this has to do with paying for state funded welfare abortions- medically necessary vs 'oops' im pregnant you pay for it- dont you?
ReplyDeleteno access has been denied at all for those who are willing to pay for it themselves.
Um, I call bullshit. The only thing keeping a PRIVATE. Women's clinic open in the state of Mississippi right now is a court order. ALEC and the Fundie Teabagger religious nuts have managed to shut every other one down by hook or crook, and the one remaining open was within a couple of days of closing for good because of collusion between legislative reps and hospitals who would grant no privileges to ANY doctor performing ANY tykes of abortions, period. Once the hospitals were coerced into agreeing to not offer privileges to those docs, then they rammed through a law that would not allow any doctor to perform abortions that didn't have admitting privileges at. Local hospital. Just the same kind of catch-22 BS that state legislatures all over the country are succumbing to bc of the undue influence of ALEC. You need to read a little bit before you make statements like these.
DeleteI've said it before and I'll keep saying it:
ReplyDeleteConservatives' convictions last just exactly as long as it doesn't involve them personally.
In the case of abortion:
The instant their
- mother, sister, wife, daughter, friend -
is diagnosed to die if they bring their rapist's chromosome-damaged fetus to term - their "convictions" will go right out the window.
You can bet money on it.
Every.
Time.
There'll be a rise in D and C's that are medically necessary. Of course there's always the "White Out" option for the politically connected. Sadly, everyone else doesn't matter to these folks. Who's going to stop unsanitary and dangerous back alley abortions?
ReplyDeleteThis is one more reason I hope Alaska turns blue.
Today is Alaska Virtual Lobby Day with Planned Parenthood.Please pick up the phone to your state Senator and your state Representative and make your thoughts known on this and other issues having to do with womens health and reproductive rights. Coghill is a staunch right to lifer and nothing is going to sway him. But with the others you stand a chance, and you are their constituents.
ReplyDelete