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In U.S., a Rekindled War Over Abortion In U.S., a Rekindled War Over Abortion
(1 day later)
NEW YORK — As the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved this month the most restrictive abortion bill to come out of Congress in at least a decade, abortion rights defenders mounted a full-blown campaign to blunt what they instantly labeled “a new war on women.”NEW YORK — As the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved this month the most restrictive abortion bill to come out of Congress in at least a decade, abortion rights defenders mounted a full-blown campaign to blunt what they instantly labeled “a new war on women.”
“The House of Representatives just passed the most extreme national anti-choice bill we’ve seen in recent years,” said Jess McIntosh, the communications director of Emily’s List, which supports female Democratic candidates and is one of the largest political action committees in the United States. “It’s blatantly unconstitutional and decimates the rights of every single woman in the country,” she told me by e-mail immediately after the vote on June 18. “This attack on our hardest-fought rights cannot go unanswered.”“The House of Representatives just passed the most extreme national anti-choice bill we’ve seen in recent years,” said Jess McIntosh, the communications director of Emily’s List, which supports female Democratic candidates and is one of the largest political action committees in the United States. “It’s blatantly unconstitutional and decimates the rights of every single woman in the country,” she told me by e-mail immediately after the vote on June 18. “This attack on our hardest-fought rights cannot go unanswered.”
Her boss, Stephanie Schriock, the head of Emily’s List, took the fight directly to the Republicans. “It’s clear that jobs, the economy and the well-being of American women are not priorities for the G.O.P., which just jumps from one piece of terrible anti-woman legislation to the next,” she said. “Women rejected the Republican agenda by historic margins in 2012, but it’s clear the G.O.P. hasn’t learned its lesson.”Her boss, Stephanie Schriock, the head of Emily’s List, took the fight directly to the Republicans. “It’s clear that jobs, the economy and the well-being of American women are not priorities for the G.O.P., which just jumps from one piece of terrible anti-woman legislation to the next,” she said. “Women rejected the Republican agenda by historic margins in 2012, but it’s clear the G.O.P. hasn’t learned its lesson.”
There is in fact little chance that the House measure, which would ban abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, will see the light of day in the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House.There is in fact little chance that the House measure, which would ban abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, will see the light of day in the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House.
But it has undeniably had an effect: Abortion is back on center stage in the countdown to the midterm elections next year, and the vote in the House served to put the spotlight on several key states where anti-abortion forces have quietly made significant inroads.But it has undeniably had an effect: Abortion is back on center stage in the countdown to the midterm elections next year, and the vote in the House served to put the spotlight on several key states where anti-abortion forces have quietly made significant inroads.
Prodded by public revulsion at the Philadelphia physician who was found guilty of murder for killing babies after botched late-term abortions and citing a scientifically unproven theory that fetuses at 22 weeks can feel pain, House Republicans and conservative lawmakers in state legislatures have reinvigorated the debate about abortion and have had some success in limiting it.Prodded by public revulsion at the Philadelphia physician who was found guilty of murder for killing babies after botched late-term abortions and citing a scientifically unproven theory that fetuses at 22 weeks can feel pain, House Republicans and conservative lawmakers in state legislatures have reinvigorated the debate about abortion and have had some success in limiting it.
This is happening not only in Republican-led states. For instance, on Friday in New York, considered among the most liberal of American states, the State Senate, which is controlled by Republicans and breakaway Democrats, refused to pass the Women’s Equality Act, which included a provision to ensure abortion rights in the state.This is happening not only in Republican-led states. For instance, on Friday in New York, considered among the most liberal of American states, the State Senate, which is controlled by Republicans and breakaway Democrats, refused to pass the Women’s Equality Act, which included a provision to ensure abortion rights in the state.
“It’s unfortunate that political grandstanding has triumphed in New York State to the detriment of gender equality,” said Lauren Hersh, the New York director of Equality Now, an international organization working for justice for women and girls. With the recent House vote in mind, she said, the New York measure “would have furthered women’s rights to reproductive health at a time when they are being eroded around the country, not only at the state level, but also at the federal level.”“It’s unfortunate that political grandstanding has triumphed in New York State to the detriment of gender equality,” said Lauren Hersh, the New York director of Equality Now, an international organization working for justice for women and girls. With the recent House vote in mind, she said, the New York measure “would have furthered women’s rights to reproductive health at a time when they are being eroded around the country, not only at the state level, but also at the federal level.”
In the past three years, at least 11 states have passed laws restricting abortions at or near 22 weeks, the same limit imposed by the House’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. South Carolina and Wisconsin are considering similar bans; Arkansas and North Dakota have passed abortion restrictions; and in Ohio, an anti-abortion bill would require transvaginal (invasive) ultrasounds.In the past three years, at least 11 states have passed laws restricting abortions at or near 22 weeks, the same limit imposed by the House’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. South Carolina and Wisconsin are considering similar bans; Arkansas and North Dakota have passed abortion restrictions; and in Ohio, an anti-abortion bill would require transvaginal (invasive) ultrasounds.
In Texas, spurred by Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, the State Senate passed a bill on June 18 that would close all but five abortion providers in the state. This came after the state had curbed funding for Planned Parenthood clinics. But the legislators put on hold, pending legal challenges, a provision similar to the House-passed bill to limit abortions at 22 weeks of pregnancy.In Texas, spurred by Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, the State Senate passed a bill on June 18 that would close all but five abortion providers in the state. This came after the state had curbed funding for Planned Parenthood clinics. But the legislators put on hold, pending legal challenges, a provision similar to the House-passed bill to limit abortions at 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion opponents get a boost from national polls that show that abortion rights do not enjoy overwhelming public support, unlike other hot social issues like same-sex marriage and gun control. Polls vary, and none of them seem conclusive — which of course helps to fuel controversy and prompts each side to dig up surveys backing their positions.Abortion opponents get a boost from national polls that show that abortion rights do not enjoy overwhelming public support, unlike other hot social issues like same-sex marriage and gun control. Polls vary, and none of them seem conclusive — which of course helps to fuel controversy and prompts each side to dig up surveys backing their positions.
Representative Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, speaking on Fox News last Saturday, brought up a poll showing that some 60 percent of Americans opposed second-trimester abortions. Ms. Blackburn led the anti-abortion legislation on the House floor, though the bill’s author was Representative Trent Franks of Arizona, who enraged some women with a comment that few rapes resulted in pregnancies. But Ms. Blackburn raised eyebrows, too, when she seemed to suggest that the House bill could lead to fewer rapes.Representative Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, speaking on Fox News last Saturday, brought up a poll showing that some 60 percent of Americans opposed second-trimester abortions. Ms. Blackburn led the anti-abortion legislation on the House floor, though the bill’s author was Representative Trent Franks of Arizona, who enraged some women with a comment that few rapes resulted in pregnancies. But Ms. Blackburn raised eyebrows, too, when she seemed to suggest that the House bill could lead to fewer rapes.
In any case, a rekindled war over and between women has moved once again to the front lines in the American political and policy scene.In any case, a rekindled war over and between women has moved once again to the front lines in the American political and policy scene.
And it resonates well beyond U.S. borders.And it resonates well beyond U.S. borders.
“What is happening in the United States signals to the rest of the world that there is far more work to do to break down barriers to accessing safe abortion for women everywhere,” Pamela W. Barnes, the president and chief executive of the nonprofit global women’s health organization EngenderHealth, said in an e-mail.“What is happening in the United States signals to the rest of the world that there is far more work to do to break down barriers to accessing safe abortion for women everywhere,” Pamela W. Barnes, the president and chief executive of the nonprofit global women’s health organization EngenderHealth, said in an e-mail.
In Engender’s 70 years of experience, she said, “what is constant is that women, no matter how they live, will go to great lengths to end an unwanted pregnancy, even risking their lives.” In EngenderHealth’s 70 years of experience, she said, “what is constant is that women, no matter how they live, will go to great lengths to end an unwanted pregnancy, even risking their lives.”

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: June 26, 2013

An earlier version of this article misspelled EngenderHealth in the second reference to the organization.