Virginia’s Board of Health reversed abortion regulations on Friday, voting to impose strict building standards on abortion clinics that would shutter at least 15 of the state’s 20 clinics.
The Board of Health had initially exempted existing clinics from the regulations, but buckled under pressure from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II and Governor Bob McDonnell and threatening that Board members might incur personal legal fees if they did not comply.
“In a really important swing state, this is Republican governance at work. And it’s not exactly a triumph of small “c” Conservatism,” said Rachel Maddow on The Rachel Maddow Show on Friday. “This is really big government using mountains of red tape, in a targeted way, to shut down specific small businesses to get the government’s chosen outcome in a medical decision you’re supposed to make yourself.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Mitt Romney is attempting to rally women voters, surrounding himself with women at a campaign event in Fairfax, VA on Thursday.
"Virginia are seeing time and time again Republicans cling to an extreme right and bully an independent agency like they did today” said Charniele L. Herring, a Virginia Democratic delegate and the Reproductive Health Caucus Chair. “I’m hearing from women from both sides of the aisle saying the Republican Party has gone too far — I can’t vote for Mitt Romney, I can’t vote for Paul Ryan.”
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Look at it this way, the current Republican mindset is a gift, that keeps on giving - to the Democratic Party.
Our daughters and grand daughters deserve to choose for themselves. They , the repubs - have gone too fAR
The republican party has been hijacked by extremists.
Yeah, Fred, a gift that keeps on giving---like the Clap. Marilyn, I appreciate your point of you, because the interference we let happen today will make another fight our daughters will have to fight. We won the right to control reproduction and our personal health, and a dim witted group is trying to use this to drive the bus, to make us all scream while other issues go by unaddressed, issues the far right aren't willing to admit to their answers.
The frame of mind I'm in and as Pissed as I am would only make me sound like I was one of the riff raf teapartyers that I despise.
Don't complain. VOTE!
Oh so a democrat has stated she won't voye for Romney, I am shocked.
What I would like to know is exactly what do the clinics have to do to meet the requirements of the regulations, I did not see that mentioned anywhere, so I am curious if it is over burdensome or something as simple as hoe large the lettering on the sign out front has to be?
Does anyone know?
The GOP has consistently acted in opposition to the claims they make. They say they want small government. Creating red tape to shut down health clinics is big government. They say they care about women. Interfering with women's personal health decisions is not caring. They say they care about the economy. All the time and money they have wasted trying to limit health care has not been used to create jobs. Further, when women can't get proper health care for themselves and their families the cost and burden on the economy skyrockets. The GOP has got to go! Repeal and replace the GOP!
I was at this hearing and half of the room was for health regulations. safety standards, and building standards. The building and safety code standards were approved by the VA Legislature in the last session, and thus the Health Board writes the regulations enforcing the new law. The representative from the Attorney General office explained that all abortion clinics needed to apply for state licensing and all newly licensed businesses were subject to inspection. The Health Dept said that all 20 clinics has applied for licensing and been inspected. Findings were given to the Board of Health. Findings included building, safety, sanitation and more findings such as, multiple usage of single dose medicines, lack of sterilization, lack of training, inadequate separation of clean and used instruments, blood leaking from bags in freezer. The health dept testified that of the clinics submitted plans for correction, and NONE had indicated that they could not comply or would close to the Health Dept. As someone who has bad reactions to anesthesia, I spoke for safety, the need for trained personnel on site and basic resuscitation standards. I spoke for the victims who have died from lack of equipment for emergencies, trained personnel and sanitation, even the lack of safety during sedation during the procedure. Women have the right to expect adequate medical training at surgical sites. As one member of the Board of Health said, the clinics can continue to provide cancer screenings and all the other health services they claim to provide; however if they want to provide surgical abortions they must meet the new codes to protect patients. A friend of mine lost her daughter because she did not wake up after her abortion -they did not have a pulse meter on her finger during the sedation and she was given too much anesthesia. We all know about the spread of STDs and infections at Dr. Gosnell's abortion clinic in Philadelphia. Perhaps you read the health dept report before condemning the inspections or the new codes.
I was at this Health Board meeting. Half the room was FOR the safety standards and regulations. Don't women deserve to expect normal safety training and equipment like the finger pulse monitors on site, adequate training for medical emergencies as well as certifions for the equipment they are using, trained personnel required to be on site during recovery, etc. Abortion is a surgical procedure. The Health Dept reported to the Board that 20 businesses applied for the licensing, 20 were inspected. Results of the inspections included: lack of adequate sanitation such as separating clean from unclean instruments, multiple usage of a single dose medicine, blood leaking from plastic bags in freezers, training issues. I think the Board of Health was correct in their decision. The VA legislature passed the new safety codes and licensing of abortion businesses and the Board of Health writes and enforces regulations. As one physician said the Health and Safety plan for Virginians is not the same as the business plan for abortion clinics. Another doctor said the clinics can still perform all the health screenings and testings they advertise, but if they choose to perform surgical abortions, they must adher to new minimum safety standards. The Health Dept said that NONE of the abortion clinics indicated they would close or could not comply.
I wonder if Churches in Virginia must adhere to the same building codes? Somehow I doubt it.
I would imagine if the churches were doing abortions they would have to follow the same rules just as hospitals, dentists and any one who puts a knife anywhere near a human body. Is that not difficult to understand or do you wish to revert to the rusty hanger approach where there are no rules of sanitation and safety you all seem to rush out at these times.
I agree that women need a safe place to have their medical needs met. If this is the intent of the law then it should apply to ALL MEDCIAL PROVIDERS NOT TO CLINICS THAT PROVIDE ABORTIONS. If this was the case I would go with the laws, but when they target one certain group then this is call discrimination in my view. This means what if the politcal power wants to do a way with certain type of business say independent gas staions that they dont like then they pass laws that target that business and shut them down. What is it was the only place that gave you that service and because the politicans didnt like it you could lost what you need.
NO political party should be allowed to do such things and to me lately the gop/tea party have gone to far in passing laws that force their so called moral and religious views on the people. Most men and women dont agree with these people and the national polls prove this fact. I am pro choice, but I dont like abortion. Sounds strange to many but when you take one groups right to chose away then what is the next right they take away. The gop/tea party have not only made an assult on women's health care, but have made an assult on voting right (phony voter fraud issues), public service workers rights, and others. Do people really think that when a state law maker in Florida introduced a bill on the floor of the state house and on the bottom of the bill were the words written by ALEC do you think this is a sell out to big money and other far right groups.
Wake up people the you are being sold out..
who's talkin gov interference,we're sayin women terrorist
now this is gov interference too the max,next they will b tellin us not to buy nothin over 16oz drinks