I’m astounded and disgusted that the upcoming vote on ballot initiatives about abortion in these three states is just now being talked about on a national level. No doubt, some people in those states have heard about the pending issues but one of the worst things about all the insanity coming from the corrupt regime in Washington, DC is that there’s so much of it, every freaking day, that it overwhelms news organizations and some things will fall by the wayside.
The three states in question are West Virginia, Oregon and Alabama.
Ballot initiatives like these can be used to drive one-issue voters to the polls, affecting the outcome of everything else on the ballot in ways that might not have happened otherwise.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s measure, a constitutional amendment prompted by state legislative action, would clarify that nothing in the state constitution “protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.”
I suspect this one is being touted as a “I’m not gonna pay for her abortion” issue but it’s far more than that. In 1993, the West Virginia Supreme Court overturned a state law that made abortion illegal except in cases of rape, incest, a fetal anomaly or threats to the life of the woman, so abortion is not as restricted as you might have assumed in this red state. In line with that, currently, Medicaid pays for abortions in West Virginia that are regarded as “medically necessary.”
This proposed constitutional amendment is a two-fer, appealing to the Forced Birthers as well as the knee-jerk “get the government out of my pocket” voters. Of concern, too, is the fact that this issue will increase Republican turn-out in an election where West Virginia’s Democratic senator, Joe Manchin, is in a tight race.
WV Free, a state abortion rights group that is part of the Vote No on Amendment 1 coalition, has set exactly the right tone for their campaign: “This coalition was formed to stop dangerous government overreach into the personal, intimate medical decisions between a woman, her faith, family and doctor,” said Julie Warden, a spokeswoman for the coalition.
Oregon
Oregon’s measure would challenge the legality of public funding [state funding, not federal] for abortion except in the case of an ectopic pregnancy or if the woman’s life is in danger.
Three previous attempts failed to gather enough signatures to appear on the ballot. Oregon Life United needed to collect 117,578 signatures to appear on the ballot this year and exceeded the goal.
Part of the motivation for the ballot initiative’s timing may be due to a new Oregon law that takes effect next year and requires private insurance to cover abortion without copayments. State officials also plan to provide abortion coverage for women in plans that are exempt from the mandate, such as those for religious group employers who oppose abortion. The law also covers abortion for individuals who would qualify for Medicaid if not for their immigration status. [emphasis added]
Oregon is largely pro-choice but I suspect the Forced Birthers see an opportunity here to profit from racism *and* small government militants (lots of bleed-over between those two groups).
Alabama
Alabama’s initiative would “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.”
The Alabama measure would amend the state constitution to grant “fetal personhood,” which could also affect pregnancy attempts through in vitro fertilization and inheritance rights.
Even though this is a “trigger law,” meaning it won’t go in to effect unless Roe v. Wade is overturned by the United States Supreme Court, it’s expected that the measure will be challenged in court.
The idea of personhood was on the ballot in Colorado in 2008 and 2010, Mississippi in 2011 and North Dakota in 2014, falling short each time by fairly large margins.
Never afraid to waste taxpayer dollars on doomed legislation, leave it to Alabama to say, “Hold my beer.”
The article is long-ish and thorough. I highly recommend reading it for a fuller picture of what women are up against (again). I found it at Roll Call, not a source I usually read.