HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Republican leaders on Monday postponed a vote on an abortion restriction bill that earlier in the day drew the Planned Parenthood national president to a Capitol news conference in opposition.
Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto the legislation, if it reaches his desk, but House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin said leaders decided not to call the bill for a vote this week because members are working through issues with it. With the primary election April 26, the House is scheduled to return to session in early May.
Earlier in the day, women who had abortions that would be banned under the proposal spoke about their experiences at a news conference featuring Mr. Wolf and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
The legislation would move Pennsylvania's ban on abortions after 24 weeks up to 20 weeks and would restrict the use of a procedure that the bill refers to as “dismemberment abortion.” Supporters of abortion rights say the procedure is referred to by doctors as a D & E, or dilation and evacuation, procedure, and Planned Parenthood described it as the safest medical procedure for second trimester abortions.
Three Pennsylvania women spoke about their experiences having abortions after learning that their fetuses had serious abnormalities. Kelsey Williams, of Regent Square, said she and her husband had been excited for their 20-week ultrasound but instead were devastated by the news that the fetus she was carrying had severe deformities.
“Ultimately, our hearts and our heads led us to end the pregnancy,” she said. “This is the toughest decision we have ever had to make, but one which we knew, and still know in our guts, is what was right for our family.”
Valerie Arkoosh, an anesthesiologist and Democratic Montgomery County commissioner, said the 20-week cutoff for most abortions proposed by the bill comes around the same time that women often receive detailed information about the development of the fetus.
“This bill would cause women to rush to a decision, sometimes with maybe a day to go before they would have to make a decision about whether or not to end a pregnancy,” Dr. Arkoosh said.
“They would be forced into decisions in a time frame that they could not possibly get appropriate consultation from experts, depending upon the situation that they were faced with.”
Ms. Richards, of Planned Parenthood, spoke against the bill.
“We know that women are safest and healthiest when decisions about their health care are made between them and their doctors,” Ms. Richards said. “Politicians are the last people who should be making decisions about women's pregnancies.”
Mr. Wolf reiterated his intention to veto the bill if it passes the House and Senate.
“This legislation would be a step back for women,” Mr. Wolf said. “This legislation would be a huge step back for Pennsylvania.”
Karen Langley: klangley@post-gazette.com or 717-787-2141 or on Twitter @karen_langley
First Published: April 11, 2016, 9:51 p.m.
Updated: April 12, 2016, 3:30 a.m.
