N.H. Republicans launch 'frontal attack on access to abortion and reproductive health services'
On the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that established a woman’s right to an abortion, the New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that would outlaw the procedure.
House Bill 194 would have the state declare that human life begins at conception and would grant the constitutional rights of a citizen to the fertilized egg. The language codifies the controversial “personhood” doctrine that is included in the state GOP party platform. Opponents say the legislation would also criminalize some birth control, limit in-vitro fertilization and restrict medical options for pregnant cancer patients.
The Concord Monitor reported that some of the bill’s supporters explicitly stated their desire to ban abortion while others were more circumspect. And then there was Rep. Kurt Wuelper (R-Strafford).
“What happens if, for example, we cross a human being and a pig? And we create something called a chimera,“ Wuelper asked. "Or we cross that human being with a cow, or a rat? Is the result of that crossing … a person who’s subject to protection under our laws? If not,” he argued, “how do we say that it’s not when we have no definition of what a person actually is?”
Planned Parenthood’s Jennifer Frizzell countered, calling the legislation a ”frontal attack on access to abortion and reproductive health services.“
Meanwhile in Washington, Republican congressional leaders withdrew plans for a vote to outlaw most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy when the party’s female lawmakers revolted. The Republican women objected to restrictive language in the bill that only granted an exception for rape if the assault was reported to law enforcement officials.
On Wuelper’s Facebook page, a group of Granite State anti-abortion activists argued there should be no exceptions. "This bill has exceptions for rape and incest babies,” wrote Darlene Pawlik, New Hampshire Right To Life trustee. “#TheyFeelPain.”
“Life. No exceptions,” replied NHRTL president and former state Rep. Jane Cormier. “Because all babies deserve life.”
“By putting exceptions into the law, we are discriminating against some children,” added former Rep. Nancy Elliott (R-Merrimack). “This is wrong to say that how you are conceived makes you deserve death. If we are really pro-life, it must be with no exceptions.”
“Indeed,” agreed Cormier.
