Kentucky Bill Requiring Ultrasounds For Women Seeking Abortions Fails In Committee

The Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday "deadlocked" on a bill (S.B. 79) that would require women to have ultrasounds and consult with physicians before undergoing abortion procedures, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The committee's 8-8 vote effectively prevents the bill from reaching the full House for consideration (Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader, 3/11). Opponents of the bill say it would create unnecessary challenges for women seeking abortions, while supporters claim the bill would allow women to receive more information before making decisions about abortions. State Rep. Tim Moore (R), a supporter of the bill, said that he would explore alternative parliamentary actions to revive the bill, adding that he believes the House has enough votes to pass the legislation. According to the AP/USA Today, the Kentucky Senate "overwhelmingly" approved the bill earlier this month.

State Rep. David Watkins (D), who serves on the committee, voted against the bill, calling it "an invasion between the patient and doctor's relationship" (Alford, AP/USA Today, 3/10). In addition, State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian (D) called the proposed measure "very demeaning to women" (Lexington Herald-Leader, 3/11). Derek Selznick, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, objected to a provision in the bill that would require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion. Selznick said the provision would create particular difficulties for women in rural areas, who would have to travel long distances to access the state's two abortion clinics (AP/USA Today, 3/10). Selznick added that the bill was "an intrusion into the doctor's office" (Lexington Herald-Leader, 3/11).

According to Moore, the bill aims "to make sure these young women are given information and that the technology that is capable of seeing within the womb, literally, is also available to them." State Rep. Jack Westwood (R) added that the bill does not require women to view the ultrasound images (AP/USA Today, 3/10). David Edmunds of the Family Foundation of Kentucky attributed the bill's failure to committee Chair Tom Burch (D), who Edmunds said suppressed the measure by "actively lobbying to bring the bill to his committee where he knew he could kill it" (Lexington Herald-Leader, 3/11).

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