Senate Democrats in Virginia joined to block two bills Thursday, one that would protect babies who survive botched abortions, and another that would require abortion facilities to provide women in the state with informed consent in writing prior to undergoing an abortion.
Democrats voted against HB 1795, a bill that would require medical care to be provided to infants who survive an abortion – in the same way it would be rendered “to any other child born alive at the same gestational age,” and that abortion providers would “take all reasonable steps to ensure the immediate transfer of the infant who has been born alive to a hospital for further medical care.”
Abortion providers who would fail to comply with the requirements of the measure would be guilty of a Class 4 felony and possibly subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Medicine.
Delegate Nick Freitas (R-Brightwo), who introduced the bill in the State House – where it ultimately passed, 52-47 – noted, “Not a single Democrat could agree that after the child is born, efforts should be made to keep him or her alive.”
This vote on the Born Alive Act shows the state of the debate on life in Virginia.
Not a single Democrat could agree that after the child is born, efforts should be made to keep him or her alive. pic.twitter.com/fE55A17LOm
— Nick Freitas (@NickJFreitas) February 16, 2022
Virginia Senate Democrats also voted down HB 2270, which would require “physicians and authorized nurse practitioners to follow certain procedures and processes to effect a pregnant woman’s informed written consent prior to the performance of an abortion.”
In an op-ed at The Virginia-Pilot, State Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) joined Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria) to justify their votes against the bills.
The two Democrats referred to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs as “unconscionable,” and explained their next move:
We have joined forces again to introduce a constitutional amendment for reproductive freedom to enshrine the right to abortion, birth control and the full range of reproductive health care services into the Virginia Constitution. We believe Virginians should decide their reproductive decisions, lives and futures. We know Virginians will vote yes.
The vast majority of Virginians, 77%, believe that politicians should not interfere with personal health care decisions. Playing politics with abortion rights and access puts people’s lives and health at risk.
Read my op-ed with Delegate @C_Herring:https://t.co/xSLVFTTMgf
— Jennifer McClellan (@JennMcClellanVA) February 17, 2023
The lawmakers asserted, without providing a reference to a poll, that “the vast majority of Virginians, 77%, believe that politicians should not interfere with personal health care decisions,” and “want abortion access and rights to be protected.”
“Abortion is essential health care and a fundamental human right,” the Democrats stated.
However, a poll released in January by the Virginia Family Foundation and Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America conflicts with the non-specific information the Democrat lawmakers mentioned in their column.
The poll found 60 percent of Virginia voters support restricting abortions at 15 weeks, and 65 percent oppose abortion until the moment of birth.
Typically, when voters are asked specific questions about abortion limits, stages of pregnancy, and fetal development at those various stages, even many who describe themselves as “pro-choice” are in favor of abortion restrictions.
While McClellan and Herring appear to cite a nondescript survey focused on government interference in “personal health care decisions” – one that does not even mention the word “abortion,” polling has found a huge majority of Democrats have supported government interference in “personal health care decisions” in the form of COVID vaccine mandates.
A Rasmussen Reports and Heartland Institute poll published in January 2022 found the vast majority of Democrat voters supported harsh measures against those who choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the poll:
While 78% of Democratic voters support the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate plan, only 22% of Republicans and 41% of voters not affiliated with either major party support the vaccine mandate. And many Democrats would support even harsher measures, including fines for Americans who won’t get the COVID-19 vaccine and criminal punishment for vaccine critics.
SBA Pro-Life America’s Southern Regional Director Caitlin Connors said in a statement about the Democrats’ votes against both infants who survive abortion and women who should be fully informed about the procedure that “every newborn baby deserves life-saving medical care, and every woman has the right to be fully informed before making a life-ending abortion decision.”
“It is not the first time Virginia Democrats have shocked the nation with their support for abortion on demand at any point in pregnancy and even infanticide,” Connors added. “Voters of the Commonwealth went on to reject the inhumane stance of Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe and elect a pro-life governor, administration and House instead.”
Virginians elected a pro-life governor and I’m committed to protecting life. We can come together to choose life, children, mothers, fathers and families. pic.twitter.com/YiqeUjNeJR
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) February 4, 2023
“Yet even as polling shows a strong majority of Virginians across the board want to limit painful late-term abortions, pro-abortion Democrats are doubling down on their radical agenda,” she noted. “Their extremism will be exposed so their constituents can hold them accountable.”
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Nick Freitas” by Virginia General Assembly.
