Louisiana House Committee Postpones Vote on Abortion Info Bill

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 1, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Louisiana House Committee Postpones Vote on Abortion Info Bill Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 1, 2005

Baton Rouge, LA (LifeNews.com) — A state House committee has postponed a vote on legislation that would require abortion businesses to provide women who have been victimized by rape or incest with information about abortion risks and alternatives.

The state legislature passed the Women’s Right to Know Act several years ago, but the measure did not include women who are victims of rape or incest in the measure. Rep. A.G. Crowe, a Republican, said his bill would include them.

"All women should have the same rights," Crowe said, according to a Baton Rouge Advocate report. "This bill is designed to place all women under the same protection. They all face the same decisions; it is not a question how they became pregnant."

However, the committee postponed a vote because the original version of the bill would have also mandated state counseling before a woman who is rape can have an abortion.

The state of Louisiana said that would cost $2 billion and Crowe stripped that requirement from his bill. Because of wording changes, the committee opted to vote on the measure next week.

Some members may also vote against the bill, including Rep. Robert Carter, who said rape and incest victims shouldn’t be included in the Right to Know statute.

Rep. Sydnie Mae Durand, a Democrat who sponsored the Right to Know provision, also asked Crowe to wait on a vote on his bill to be able to work out better language. Crowe agreed and told reporters that although the session is in its final three weeks, "I believe we can still make this happen."

The bill, House Bill 242, is in the House Health and Welfare Committee.