Senate Dems ask Cuccinelli for help on abortion clinic bill (Updated)

By Brian Kirwin | Thursday, February 24th, 2011 | Policy

I’ve been laughing for the past few minutes over the silly Democrats in the Virginia Senate.

They halted a vote on a bill, SB 924, that “requires the Board of Health to promulgate regulations containing minimum standards for policies related to infection prevention, disaster preparedness, and facility security of hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities.”

The House added an amendment that stated “. For purposes of this paragraph, facilities in which 5 or more first trimester abortions per month are performed shall be classified as a category of ‘hospital’”

And WOW did the Senate get desperate. They’ve asked to delay the bill, on today the final day it can be voted upon, so that they can ask AG Ken Cuccinelli if it’s constitutional.

The Democrats are so desperate to protect abortions (so much for legal, safe and rare, huh?) that they now are relying on their most hated adversary, Ken Cuccinelli, to save them.

Of course, the Democratic Senator who asked for the AG’s ruling said it wouldn’t change his vote anyway, so it’s a brazenly partisan, obstructionist and childish act, but how lost must these Senators be to be down to waving a Cuccinelli flag in their final legislative hour.

UPDATE - Cuccinelli said it was constitutional, and Bolling voted Aye to break the predicted 20-20 tie and the amendment was agreed to.

UPDATE – Cuccinelli’s statement:

Today, a long, hard-fought battle for women’s health and dignity has finally been won in the State Senate.

Just this afternoon, the Democrat controlled Virginia State Senate passed a bill which will require abortion clinics to meet hospital-style safety standards. This will mean that any abortion clinic which performs more than 5 abortions in a month will need to meet safety standards comparable to any other clinic which performs out-patient procedures.

For over 25 years, Virginia abortion clinics have not been held to minimal health and safety standards. As a result, women who walk into these clinics are often not treated with the care and respect that any human being deserves.

Our abortion clinics have not been held to high safety standards in the past – even issues of basic cleanliness have been lacking. As a result, women who walk into these clinics have been done a severe disservice.

It is interesting to note that in 1984 when the health and safety regulations were removed from Virginia abortion clinics, the Virginia Society for Human Life and notoriously liberal National Organization for Women (NOW) held their one and only joint press conference ever. They jointly objected to the removal of health and safety standards, asserting that women in abortion clinics would not get the quality of treatment and the respect of people in other medical facilities. And what an understatement that turned out to be.

Obviously I am pro-life. While I regret the occurrence of abortions, I do want women in all circumstances treated with the dignity and respect that every human being deserves. The establishment of health and safety standards for Virginia’s abortions clinics will not only help preserve the health and safety but also the dignity of women in Virginia.

As a state senator I tried for several years to pass this legislation – and it is great to see that today, members from both sides of the aisle – and the Lt. Governor – realized the importance of this legislation and were able to score this victory for life, and the dignity of women.

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