Indiana Lawmakers Propose Various Pro-Life Bills on Abortion Issues 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 13, 2007
Indianapolis, IN (LifeNews.com) — Legislators in Indiana have prepared a slate of pro-life bills that would require abortion practitioners to tell women considering an abortion that their baby’s life began at conception and that the procedure will cause the unborn child considerable pain. Others would put more requirements on abortion facilities.
The fetal pain and conception bills were introduced during the last session, but Indiana Right to Life says Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton refused to allow a floor vote on the bill before a key legislative deadline.
The Indiana house approved the fetal pain measure last year and the bill’s sponsor says she thinks the legislation will make it to the governor this time.
"I believe if this gets to the floor for a vote, it will pass both the House and the Senate," Sen. Patricia Miller, a Republican, told the Indianapolis Star newspaper.
If the measure becomes law, Indiana would join Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota and Oklahoma in informing women about the pain their baby would feel during an abortion — something pro-life advocates hope will help reduce the number of abortions.
Mike Fichter, executive director of Indiana Right to Life, said his group backs providing women with the information.
"I think there’s universal agreement that an abortion decision is a life-changing decision for the woman and unborn child," Fichter told the newspaper. "The information about life beginning at conception and the ability for an unborn child to feel pain are key components that every woman should be informed about when making this decision."
However, Betty Cockrum, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said the abortion business would oppose the bill and its requirements to inform women.
"If people really want to deal with the incidents of abortion, you do that by reducing unintended pregnancies. Period," Cockrum said. "That’s not what these bills do."
Fichter also said he didn’t think there would be as much of a problem with the bills getting a vote this time because the current Senate president, David Long of Ft. Wayne, is more in line with the group’s thinking than Garton.
"We are encouraged because we know that President Pro Tempore Long is strongly pro-life," Fichter told the Star. "We know he will be open to listening to our concerns and our hopes for passage of this legislation."
Yet, there could a problem in the House if the new Democratic leadership doesn’t allow a vote on the bill as the Republicans did before they took over the chamber after the November elections.
Miller said she planned to meet with House Speaker Pat Bauer, a pro-life Democrat from South Bend.
Related web sites:
Indiana Right to Life – https://www.lovethemboth.com
