Senate Wades Back Into Abortion Debate

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Senate reopened the abortion debate Friday in advance of the midterm elections, this time over a bill that would make it a federal crime to take a teenager across state lines to end a pregnancy without a parent's knowledge.

Supporters of the bill say such incidents often occur when a girl, or the man involved, wants to evade homestate parental consent laws. Opponents say the bill would make criminals of well-meaning confidants, such as relatives and clergy members, who might help a pregnant teen whose parents are abusive.
...
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who is managing opposition to the bill during floor debate, said, "Instead of doing something to improve the health of women and girls, the Republican leadership is spending precious time on a bill that protects incest predators, throws grandmothers in jail and violates our Constitution."

She said Democrats would try to amend the bill but predicted it would be approved considering the Republicans' 55-44-1 majority.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-interstate-abortion,0,1690677.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[whistle]

1. Save a fetus, kill a Lebanese child, way to go U.S. congress....

...that's getting human priorities in the proper order

[Sequoia]

2. WTF! A FEDERAL CRIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I throw my hands up in the air.

[xxqqqzme]

3. unless that is 100 Women Senators

I don't even want 2 hear about it.


I hate these people so intent on dividing and destroying this country.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. And the gap widens as both sides gather and glance askance.

[depakid]

5. And of course the Dems won't filibuster this, either

because- like almost every other area, a woman's right to choose is no longer deemed as important as pandering to the far right.

[Gman]

6. Damn! Is Congress going to conduct ANY real business this year???

Are they going to do something else besides bullshit political issues to run attack ads with this year?

Just what the hell has Congress done this year???

[donkeyotay]

9. Not a damned thing. What has Congress done since they gave the

Emperor his scepter? When was the last time Congress did anything for the American people?

This Congress is a disgrace, just like their president. They are making history. I am so sick of this. These same people with their suits and ties, speeches and talking points, these same shmucks who can't wave the flag enough or wrap themselves in Jesus enough, can't lift a finger to stop the suffering in Lebanon, but they want another round of "we love babies more than you do."

:nuke:

[saigon68]

19. What will Joementum Limpmann do?

[CTyankee]

22. JUst you wait til Ned Lamont gets there!

He will kick some ass on a woman's right to choose! He and his wife Annie have been strong supporters of Planned Parenthood of Connecticut for years. He will be a strong vote on choice. Have no doubt, you will hear from Ned!!!

[HockeyMom]

7. States Rights

They are already attempting to circumvent States Rights. Specifically, those states which refuse to fall in line with the Fundie Agenda, such as California (defeated Parental Notification) and New York (never even came up).

As I have said many times before, if Roe is overturned and thrown back to the States, the Congress will pass laws to force the "rogue" states to fall in line.

[tanyev]

11. Remember when the GOP was so rabid about protecting

states rights? Gosh, when was that....about 1993-late 2000? Those were the good old days.

[rodeodance]

8. punish, put in jail--the people who want to help these women. geesh.

[ismnotwasm]

10. So to clarify, helping a teenage girl in South Dakota

end an unwanted pregnancy in a state over that allows abortion will be a federal crime, if parental consent isn't obtained. I don't think it's a coincidence that this bill comes up at this time.

And it's bullshit. Anybody who still doesn't think the days of back alley abortions aren't returning may need to rethink their position.

[Daylin Byak]

12. Let's think

We going a ongoing costly war in iraq
conflict between israel and hezbollah
gas prices at a all time high
outsourceing jobs everywhere
a minumun wage that hasn't been raised in nine fucking years
illegals crossing our boarders every day

and in the last two weeks what have I seen congress do:

debate gay marriage
debate "one nation under god" of the pledge
and coming soon

ABORTION!!!!

Why can't we see congress take drastic action and finally fix the ongoing problems that are tackling this country head on.

Oh I forgot we can't cause IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR cause lord knows we try to do some real work and piss our one GOP voter i'll never hear the end of it.

Good Grief!!!

[54anickel]

16. Well, according to the "fundie" base, all the ills of this nation and the

world would be fixed if we would just stopped "pissing god off". :eyes: Gotta fix the root of those "ongoing problems" you mentioned.

[krkaufman]

13. Alternate Solutions

(1) Let the girl drive?

(2) Drive the girl to within 10 yards of the state border, have her walk across the border, and offer her a lift to wherever she's going when you happen to bump into her 10 yards on the other side of the border.

[uppityperson]

14. Been done before, reverting back to it again.

many people these days do not know what it used to be like. They really don't. It was really really bad, really really hard.

[krkaufman]

18. That's my understanding.

I was recently pointed to this MotherJones article, which I've yet to read. Apparently, it's a startling reminder of life pre-Roe v Wade.

The Way It Was
By Eleanor Cooney
Mother Jones Magazine
September/October 2004 Issue

The Beatles ruled. The mini was in. I was seventeen, and pregnant. What happened next is what could happen again.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

15. Wouldn't this be against Commerce laws

or some sort? If my state outlaws gambling, the state cannot keep me from going to Las Vegas. Wouldn't this be the same legally?

[HockeyMom]

21. Blue Laws

I remember as a kid my uncle driving across the Indiana border into Illinois and back on Sundays to buy beer.

Probably the same concept.

[bleedingheart]

17. When do the pregnancy tests start for women as they cross state lines?

when do women who travel overseas get pregnancy tests to insure the visit to Switzerland isn't for an abortion???

[Lars39]

23. As soon as all the present roadways become

toll road check points, courtesy of Carlyle Group. :scared:

[Vinca]

20. For the most part, this boils down to a bunch of old, white men

deciding what's right for the "womenfolk." Stay the hell out of our uteri, whether we're 14 or 40. Geez, Louise, I don't know if I can handle 2 more years of this.