Democrats Fundraise on Protecting Abortion Rights in State Legislatures

My inbox today had a fundraising e-mail from the National Democratic Party written by their chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.  She discusses the Democrats’ fight against a new Virginia state law requiring ultrasounds to be performed before an abortion and the mother given an opportunity to view the ultrasound. And she makes it clear the Democrats intend to take the fight for abortion rights to state legislatures across the country.

There are still 450 other bills on birth control and abortion in state legislatures across the country. With a far-right faction of the GOP holding a majority in many of them, it’s unclear how many we can stop. But let me just say this: We need to be prepared to win in November.

As long as women’s rights are being attacked, we’re going to keep fighting back — in Congress and in the states.

Say that you’re ready to stand with Democrats as we stand up for women. Add your name today.

We’re taking on this fight both nationally and in the states. In Virginia, that meant helping to fund the state party’s rapid response communications team — they pushed back on the ultrasound legislation, supported the Democrats who opposed it, and publicized peaceful protests of it at the capitol. That work helped put this bill on the national radar.

It is interesting to see Democrats openly take a pro-choice position focused at the state legislative level, particularly when here in Arkansas many Democrats have been pro-life in the past.  But in the previous session, we saw the House Public Health Committee — where Democrats held a 15-to-5 advantage — vote down pro-life bill after pro-life bill.  Chaired by Rep. Linda Tyler (D-Conway), the committee earned the nickname “the death panel” for how many pro-life measures they voted down.  Although this earned Tyler praise of those on the left from “quietly shepherded the defeat of 10 radical anti-abortion bills,” I am not sure how well this will play in Conway where she is running for state senate.

I don’t recall any legislation similar to Virginia’s ultrasound bill, but Tyler’s opponent Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Conway) introduced a bill that would require those performing an abortion to check for a heartbeat in the unborn baby and inform the mother if there was a heartbeat.  This was one of the bills killed in committee.

It is clear from the email from the Democratic Party where they stand on the issue of abortion and that they intend to fight against pro-life legislation on the state level.

Any Democrats in Arkansas care to disagree? Let me know.