A few weeks ago, Louisiana was on the verge of passing an incredibly restrictive bill- a “Fetal Pain” bill.  It would have unilaterally banned abortions after 20 weeks, based on the scientifically unfounded belief that fetuses can experience pain at this point of development.

Of course, it is at the standard 20 week ultrasound that mothers are first able to learn of many devastating and untreatable conditions that their fetus might have, rendering it incapable of surviving life outside of the womb.  Only 1.5% of abortions are performed after 20 weeks, and of those, the majority are women who had wanted a baby but do not wish to labor and deliver a baby that can never survive.

…it is these women, mostly grieving mothers, who bills such as these attack.

The good news out of Louisiana is that the legislature completely bypassed the bill- which had already passed in the state senate- tabling it to committee in the House.  They did this because if the bill did pass, it would eliminate any protections for pregnant victims of rape or incest, and for women who are put in serious physical danger by carrying a pregnancy.  If this protection is eliminated, Louisiana would lose its Medicaid funding- to the tune of about $4.5 billion.

Good news for Louisiana!

Now let’s hope that Michigan lawmakers take heed and follow suit.