WASHINGTON, D.C., November 27, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As the country celebrates Thanksgiving, the issues of “marriage” and abortion are seeing action at the state level.
Michigan:
No Taxes for Abortion Insurance has gathered over 300,000 signatures in an effort to become the 24th state to avoid required taxpayer-funded abortion under Obamacare. Once the signatures are validated, the Republican-led state legislature can avoid a veto from Republican Governor Rick Snyder. The governor’s veto killed the same measure last year because it did not include exceptions for rape and incest, and would affect all insurance plans.
The measure would require abortion-funding insurance plans to be a separate insurance plan known as a “rider.” Planned Parenthood is opposing the measure.
Arizona:
Regulations are being drafted in conformity with a 2012 state law requiring that a physician with hospital admitting privileges be present while an abortion is being performed on a women. Women must be ready to depart the recovery room before the physician can depart.
Follow-up care requirements for some women are included in the law.
Guam:
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo has signed two pro-life bills into law. One requires “life-sustaining medical treatment” for a baby that lives through an abortion. The other modifies a law related to mothers being given “printed materials” regarding options other than abortion, preventing bureaucrats from being authorized to examine the material.
California:
Conservative activists are challenging a state law that allows “transgender” students to use bathrooms, showers, locker rooms, and changing rooms designated for children of the opposite biological sex. The Advocate reports that activists are unlikely to succeed in their effort to get enough signatures to force a ballot initiative. An initial random sampling of signatures shows only 75% have been validated, far below the level necessary for the initiative to be considered.
Illinois:
A judge has declared a lesbian couple may be “married” before the state’s gay “marriage” law takes effect on June 01, 2014. The judge has ordered a marriage license be provided because one of the women has cancer, and is likely to die before the law takes effect.
Pennsylvania:
A judge has set up a hearing for a challenge to Pennsylvania’s state law banning gay “marriage” in light of the Supreme Court overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, among other Court decisions on sexual identity and sexuality. The state’s Attorney General previously decided to not defend the law, in violation of state law. One state lawmaker has called for the Attorney General’s impeachment.
Pennsylvania’s legal system has seen controversy throughout 2013 related to gay “marriage.” In September, a judge ordered a county clerk to stop issuing illegal marriage certificates to gay couples in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Corbett stepped in to stop the clerk as well.
In October, former governor Tom Ridge attacked pro-life and pro-family conservatives for their views on marriage and abortion.