Legislative committee shoots down abortion ultrasound bill (Wyoming)

macon.com ^ | February 3, 2015 | BEN NEARY

[Morgana]

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Wyoming legislative committee on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have required doctors to advise women seeking abortions at least 24 hours before the procedure that they could see an ultrasound image of the fetus and listen to its heartbeat.

The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee voted 6-3 against the bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Reeder, R-Casper.

Reeder told the committee the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that requiring doctors to give such advice 24 hours before a scheduled abortion procedure doesn't violate women's right to abortion.

Reeder said his bill would help a woman to understand that the abortion procedure will have consequences for her unborn child and allows her to see "what she is carrying is not just a blob of tissue."

Donna Adler, lobbyist for the Diocese of Cheyenne, said the diocese strongly supported the bill on the grounds that it's good for women.

"Abortion is something that the law has permitted, but it's hardly something that we can promote as a social good," Adler said, calling it a tragic circumstance for the woman and the child that she carries.

[trebb]

The side of the low-info-voters considers it a crime to ensure one is informed of the facts...