Tornado Alley (PROG)

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The war on women continues.....

We'll Shut Down in Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma: Planned Parenthood

That's what Planned Parenthood said today after the Arizona House approved two bills this morning that will significantly impact the state's largest planning and prevention provider.

One bill would apply state requirements for clinics that provide surgical abortions to those that provide only medication abortions. Planned Parenthood says that change would force it to curtail services in clinics in Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. Arizona Republic

The bills, HB2416 and HB2384, are a two-pronged approach, adding to the state's already restrictive abortion laws. Here goes the Arizona legislature again, with its focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. First it was more gun laws, then a shit load of anti-immigration bills, now more abortion restraints. Yep, it's the economy, stupid.

HB2416 establishes a long list of requirements that the provider must "offer" the patient. It's only "offer" at this stage; you can bet a future version will say "require." For example, within one hour of the operation the physician must offer to preform a fetal ultrasound image and "ausculation" of the heart tone (all of this must be in high "quality"); offer the patient the opportunity to view the image and listen to the heart; offer to explain the size, placement, and development of the fetus's organs and limbs; and offer a "physical picture" of the ultrasound. Patients, fathers, and maternal grandparents who do not believe the physician has provided these services appropriately may file a civil action for financial and statutory damages.

Almost as an afterthought, the bill mentions that health care providers "shall not use telemedicine to provide an abortion." This nonsurgical procedure is especially important for rural areas, as the Daily Iowan wrote in their editorial endorsing it last year:

The procedure, as it is currently practiced, involves all of the same dynamics but is done with videoconferencing equipment; the patient and a nurse meet in a medical facility at one end, and a doctor consults from the other. There are question and answer sessions, and the nurse carries out all the physical tasks and examinations. If the doctor deems the patient mentally and physically prepared, he or she pushes a button, unlocking a drawer on the patient’s end. The nurse then administers the birth-terminating pills.

You can see why the procedure would be vital at many underfunded and understaffed rural health care clinics.

HB2384 attacks Planned Parenthood's training and funding infrastructure. First it stipulates that no state or federal money, including public funds for tuitions, can be used for "training to perform abortions." Next, to receive "charitable organization" status, and thereby permit contributors to write off their donation as tax-deductible, organizations must verify that they do not

... provide, pay for, promote, provide coverage of or provide referrals for abortions and does not financially support any other entity that provides, pays for, promotes, provides coverage of or provides referrals for abortions.

That's pretty straight-forward. This is just mean-spirited and counterproductive if you want to decrease the number of abortions, as most Planned Parenthood abortions are self-funded. What the limitation on donations would affect, the organization says, are "family planning and medical services." Of course, the tax-emption restriction won't affect federal- and state-funded "pregnancy resource centers" staffed by forced birthers.

The bills easily passed the House 40-18-2. And what will happen if this legislation lands on Governor Brewer's desk? The Arizona Right to Life provides the answer:

AZRTL PAC iterates its endorsement of Jan Brewer in the Republican Primary for Arizona Governor because she has been a supporter of the pro-life cause for over 25 years. Since becoming governor in January 2009, Governor Jan Brewer signed into law eight pro-life bills that will help protect innocent human life in Arizona. “In just 18 months as governor, Governor Brewer has proven herself to be a strong advocate for the sanctity of life,” said Walt Opaska, Chairman of the AZRTL PAC.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/28/951139/-Well-Shut-Down-in-Flagstaff,-Prescott,-Yuma:-Planned-Parenthood