The mainstream media paints a bleak picture for abortion proponents as states across America increasingly enact abortion restrictions upheld by the Supreme Court.-- From "Tests of 'Roe' more frequent since justices upheld late-term abortion ban in '07" by Robert Barnes, Washington Post Staff Writer 12/28/10
The importance of [the Nebraska "fetal pain" restriction] is likely to be felt far beyond Nebraska. Abortion opponents call it model legislation for other states and say it could provide a direct challenge to Supreme Court precedents that restrict government's ability to prohibit abortion before a fetus can survive outside the womb.
Critics of abortion hail the law as the most prominent and promising outcome of the Supreme Court's 2007 decision [banning late-term abortion].
The 5 to 4 decision in Gonzales v. Carhart turned away [abortionist LeRoy] Carhart's challenge to the federal ban on "partial birth" abortion and appeared to mark a significant change in the high court's balancing of a woman's right with the government's interest.
"I believe the decision was like planting a bunch of seeds, and we're just starting to see the shoots popping out of the ground," said Roger Evans, who is in charge of litigation for Planned Parenthood of America.
The Center for Reproductive Rights concluded that in 2010, state legislatures "considered and enacted some of the most extreme restrictions on abortion in recent memory, as well as passing laws creating dozens of other significant new hurdles."
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From "Pro-Lifers Look to Spread Fetal Pain Law" by Timberly Ross, Associated Press 12/9/10
Abortion rights foes emboldened by a new Nebraska law that restricts late-term procedures based on the disputed notion that fetuses can feel pain after 20 weeks are pushing for similar legislation in other states, particularly those where Republicans won big in November.
. . . Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky lawmakers have already started drafting bills similar to Nebraska's law, and abortion opponents are pushing lawmakers in Kansas, Maryland and Oklahoma to do the same.
Dr. LeRoy Carhart, one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers who runs a clinic near Omaha, and his backer, the New York City-based Center for Reproductive Rights, have threatened to challenge the Nebraska law in court. Dionne Scott, a spokeswoman for the center, said it would file a challenge "when the circumstances are appropriate." But losing such a challenge would risk having the court throw away the viability standard in favor of a pain standard, which could be further lowered should it be proven fetuses feel can feel pain earlier than 20 weeks.
Abortion opponents in Kansas and Oklahoma say they're making a similar push for fetal pain legislation, but no lawmakers have publically announced their support.
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From "Anti-abortion push gains momentum" by Sarah Kliff, Politico 12/14/10
After serving four years in a Democratic-controlled Legislature, Iowa state GOP Rep. Matt Windschitl had become accustomed to his anti-abortion legislation languishing in committee.
But that all changed in November, when the Iowa House and the governor’s seat both flipped Republican. The Senate remains in Democratic control but with significantly tighter margins, all of which has Windschitl thinking that his bill banning late-term abortion, which he plans to introduce next year, has a fighting chance at passing.
Windschitl isn’t the only one sensing a sea change: Massive gains in statehouses and a promising new rhetorical strategy have anti-abortion advocates predicting a banner year — and abortion rights supporters bracing for the challenge.
They have reason to worry: Anti-abortion advocates are planning an aggressive strategy at both the state and the federal level. At a National Right to Life Committee state strategy conference last week — hastily convened after activists realized the extent of their legislative gains — the anti-abortion lobby announced it would focus on three model laws that have already seen some success on the ground.
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Also read, Iowans Energized Against Abortion
