StarTribA pair of bills that would dramatically limit abortion rights passed their final legislative hurdle on Monday and will soon be headed to the governor's desk.
The GOP-led Minnesota Senate voted 40-26 to eliminate state funding of abortions for poor women and voted 42-24 to prohibit all abortions 20 weeks after conception. The votes split largely along party lines, though several DFLers joined Republicans in support of the restrictions.
The House passed the same set of bills last week with some minor differences that will be resolved before the bills advance to the governor.
If signed into law, the GOP-sponsored measures would represent the most significant changes to Minnesota's abortion laws in decades. But DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has said he would not sign bills violating the "fundamental right" to an abortion. [Sounds like he left room to sign limited regulation]
Taxpayers have subsidized abortions for poor women since the 1995 Doe vs. Gomez Minnesota Supreme Court decision. That funding amounted to $1.6 million in 2009. The court ruled then that a similar law restricting public funding of abortion was unconstitutional. [I'm beginning to wonder if Minnesota is becoming a Canadian province. The same MN court system that "elected" US Senator Al Franken.]
The bill provides an exception for women seeking an abortion after 20 weeks who would otherwise risk death or serious injury. The exception does not include "psychological or emotional conditions." People who perform unlawful abortions after 20 weeks would be guilty of a felony, though the pregnant woman would not be penalized.
The legislation also anticipates a possible legal challenge by establishing a special "litigation account" to pay for the costs of defending the bill in court. The account would be funded by the Legislature and private donations but no specific amount was appropriated.
HT The wife
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