Cowboy State Daily
Bill Preventing Selective Abortions Passes Through Wyoming Senate Committee
A bill preventing abortions for selective reasons such as the sex or race of the unborn baby is heading to the Wyoming Senate for debates this week.
A bill preventing abortions for selective reasons such as the sex or race of the unborn baby is heading to the Wyoming Senate for debates this week.
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3 years agoon
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News Release
This story first appeared on Cowboy State Daily
By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily
A bill preventing abortions for selective reasons such as the sex or race of the unborn baby is heading to the Wyoming Senate for debates this week.
House Bill 161, sponsored by Rep. John Romero-Martinez, R-Cheyenne, would ban abortions performed because the unborn child diagnosed with a disability or for the reasons of race, sex, color, national origin or ancestry.
The Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee tackled the bill first in its meeting on Tuesday, ultimately unanimously voting to pass it out of the committee.
“A woman goes to a genetic test done and the test shows the child has Down syndrome or it’s mixed race or something, and for that reason only, they choose to have their unborn child killed,” Romero-Martinez said during his testimony. “This bill prevents that.”
In the bill, disabilities are defined as any disease, defect or disorder that is genetically inherited, including physical, mental and intellectual disabilities, physical disfigurement, scoliosis, dwarfism, down syndrome, albinism, amelia, meromelia or a physical or mental disease.
An amendment was made to the bill to make an exception for women who terminate a pregnancy in the event their fetus is diagnosed with a fatal anomaly that would result in the child dying within three months of its birth.
Sen. Dan Furphy, R-Laramie, asked if there was any disability, besides a fatal one, that would be considered reasonable for a woman to terminate a pregnancy.
“You’re making it clear in this bill there is no disability that could not be purposive of an abortion,” Furphy said.
Romero-Martinez said there might be some “gray area” situations where a child might be born, but not have any brain capacity. He said this would likely fall under a lethal fetal anomaly.
“I don’t know, I would imagine…that’s covered under that amendment,” he said. “But it’s a tricky situation.”
Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, commented there are some countries that have increased genetic testing, but also have increased abortion rates in fetuses diagnosed with Down syndrome.
Mike Leman, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne, spoke in support of the bill on Tuesday.
“Enforcement will be a challenge, but at least it will allow for retroactive action and that could save lives, if it prevents even one provider from encouraging an abortion, it will have been worth it,” Leman said.
Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, also testified in support of the bill.
“Life is precious and I struggle with the idea we even have to have this legislation and come to a point as a society where we say ‘You know what? This is worth saving and this is not worth saving,’” Neiman said.
Additionally, Wyoming Right to Life supported the bill.
Cheyenne physician and former legislator Larry Meuli spoke in opposition to the bill, however.
“I’m opposed to this bill…because of the unintended consequences of it,” Meuli said. “It bothers me the Wyoming Legislature feels like they can tell people what they can believe and how they can practice.”
Sen. Troy McKeown, R-Gillette, questioned the difference between “killing” a fetus while in the womb and killing a child at the age of 2.
Meuli countered there were many definitions of when life begins, and that he didn’t necessarily believe a fetus in the womb was a person.
Cheyenne realtor Wendy Volk also spoke in opposition of the bill, noting she had genetic testing done on a pregnancy, but added it wasn’t to decide whether or not she would terminate the pregnancy.
“I had a pregnancy at 42-years-old and there were some unusual things happenings in my pregnancy,” she said. “It was for the health and well-being of me and my pregnancy.”
With committee approval, the bill will now be sent to the Senate for a review by all senators.
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Dennis West
March 31, 2021 at 12:48 pm
Yep – holier than thou repubs. Party of small government? Ensure individual liberty? Ha-ha-ha. What does this party stand for anymore? Bullying I guess. And of course all these white men feel entitled, again, to insert themselves right into the patient-Dr relationship – since they know women and educated professionals can’t be trusted to make honest decisions. We (repubs) know best, we (repubs) know what g*d wants, we know what’s the right thing for everyone! Lots of humility there, don’t you think? And of course, everyone needs to fall in line with our view, and we will pass laws to make sure.
Despite the constitutional prohibition against making law respecting an establishment of religion, the wise repub white men of the legislature decide their religious beliefs outweigh others’ views.
Don’t trust this party to safeguard the US democracy – after all they all said nothing when the US capital was stormed in an attempt to thwart a legal election. Working up the base so repubs can regain national power, access to money and status! Historians know that this issue was identified as a “winning campaign wedge” for Nixon – talk it up so the self righteous get out and vote.
Against abortion? – don’t have one! No laws keep you from breeding if you want. Leave others the liberty to make their own important decisions.
Thomas Jones
March 31, 2021 at 2:12 pm
I feel the same about these experimental covid vaccines, Dennis. My body, my choice!
Mitch Smith
March 31, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Mr. West, I will pray for you. If you are not pregnant, it isnt a baby… God will have the final say, this life is only a stage to see where we go in the after life. I will say your name in my prayers because like a baby, your heart beats
Thomas Jones
March 31, 2021 at 2:14 pm
Good. The process of getting an abortion should be the same as the process for adoption.
Dennis West
March 31, 2021 at 3:44 pm
how about carrying a pregnancy to full term, Tommy? Shouldn’t that be at least as many hoops as adoption? You know, like some paperwork with references that a person is minimally able to parent? If not, why not? Do you think only deciding not to be a parent is not legit and needs a bunch of white men intervening to get it right? Like I said, no one is denied breeding.
Dennis West
March 31, 2021 at 9:38 pm
Thomas – I reread my last reply to you. I apologize for not using your posted name. I won’t repeat being that familiar. I’m sorry.
Alishia Bertola
March 31, 2021 at 3:48 pm
So, is the state also going to provide financial assistance and medical care for children born with disabilities? Or born to parents who are not financially / physically / mentally able to care for them?
Ezra Petersen
March 31, 2021 at 4:03 pm
Enforcement difficult? Probably more towards impossible. How is a provider going to know if you had a genetic test done unless they were the one that facilitated the testing. You don’t have a “medical record” that is maintained by some government agency, at least that is admitted to. If I had some type of blood test done at Sheridan Memorial and I go to say Jackson, St. John’s isn’t going to know the test ever took place or the results unless I bring it with me or tell them to contact the other hospital. Is there even anywhere in Wyoming that provides abortions ?
Cindy Livingston
March 31, 2021 at 5:55 pm
I think the responsible thing to do is to have the genetic testing done previous to engaging in sexual behavior. If the test shows that off spring have a high potential to inherit an anomaly and you do not want to parent a child with the anomaly, get sterilized. If you do not want to parent any child, get sterilized. Sterilization does not end the life of a child. It is the responsible thing to do.