Abortion

Kentucky House Committee Strikes Down Six Anti-Choice Bills

While many legislatures are moving full steam ahead to pass abortion restrictions, Kentucky is knocking down anti-choice bills.

After what feels like years on the defensive, reproductive rights advocates pushed ahead with proposed federal protections for reproductive rights. Healthnewsnet / flickr

A Democratic majority in Kentucky’s House Health and Welfare Committee has blocked six new anti-choice proposals from being sent to the floor for a vote. The bills, which involved a 20-week abortion ban, insurance coverage bans, mandatory face-to-face sessions with doctors, forced ultrasounds, and admitting privileges for physicians performing abortions, were all rejected in a party-line vote.

The Courier Journal reports that lawmakers rejected the restrictions for one simple reason: they don’t feel the need to get involved in a woman’s decision. Speaking against so-called informed consent proposals, one legislator said he trusts women.

Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, the committee chairman, said women are not stupid and do not have to go through a lengthy description of the process of the abortion. “They know what they’re going in there for,” he said. “No one dragged them in there.”

Kentucky has proposed an ultrasound bill every year for the past decade. None have passed.