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May 24, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While Congress and state agencies throughout the country grapple with mounting evidence that murderer Kermit Gosnell’s “House of Horrors” was not an isolated incident, battles are being waged in state legislatures over abortion regulations. Also at stake in state legislatures are crisis pregnancy center funds, sex education regulations, the definition of marriage, and taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.

Arizona

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an abortion law signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer in last April that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks gestation – save for “medical emergencies.” Stating the grounds for the court’s decision, Judge Marsha Berzon ruled, “a woman has a constitutional right to choose to terminate her pregnancy before the fetus is viable.” The law also contained other regulations on abortion, abortion facilities, and abortion workers.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Senate has voted to defund Planned Parenthood. The bill, which passed on a 33-8 vote, directs the state's family planning funds to hospitals and public health care providers. The bill does not stipulate that those facilities be barred from committing abortions in order to receive funds. The House vote on the bill is scheduled for Friday, May 24, but had not taken place as of this writing.

North Carolina

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The State Senate passed a budget bill that allots $250,000 to crisis pregnancy centers. The state has eight times as many CPC’s as abortion facilities, according to an estimate from the Raleigh News & Observer. The bill has not yet been put on the House calendar.

Additionally, astate health curriculum bill, SB132, would require abortion to be listed as a preventable cause of premature births. Some 137 studies have reported abortion as a risk for mothers to give birth to babies before they reach full-term. One North Carolina abortion facility already acknowledges the abortion-preterm birth connection on its abortion consent form.

Illinois

The Illinois Senate passed a bill requiring birth control instruction in every public school that teaches sex education. Previously, the state only required abstinence instruction. The bill is awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature.

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Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has weighed in on another Illinois bill, attempting to institute same-sex “marriage.” The president’s spokesman Shin Inouye told Politico, “Were the president still in the Illinois state legislature, he would support this measure.” He added the president believes redefining marriage is necessary to treat “everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect.” If passed, Illinois would be the 13th state to change the definition of marriage.

Texas

Senate and House Democrats effectively stopped all abortion-related bills from reaching votes during the 2013 session despite being outnumbered by Republicans. More than 24 bills were introduced, including proposed abortion bans and abortion facility and provider regulations. Republican State Senator Donna Campbell, co-author of the fetal pain bill, said, “It seems like this session there hasn’t been much momentum in getting pro-life bills passed.” She added, “The passion is still there, but the focus has been on the budget and infrastructure issues.”

Arkansas

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright issued a preliminary injunction against an Arkansas law restricting abortions to no more than 12 weeks gestation. The measure outlaws abortions after 12 weeks – except for children conceived in rape and incest, children whom doctors designate as a risk to their mother’s lives, and children with physical disorders. The federal court judge issued the temporary injunction while deciding a suit filed by the ACLU of Arkansas and the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of two Little Rock abortionists. The groups claim the law is unconstitutional and contradicts the U.S. Supreme Court Decision Roe v. Wade, which decriminalized abortion.