Midweek News Roundup: 03/09/11

Domestic News: Pro-life legislators in Minnesota are hoping to establish a ban on abortions after 20 weeks. Why? Much like similar legislation passed in Nebraska, after 20 weeks scientists are more certain that the unborn child can feel pain. In 2009, 1.5% of all abortions in Minnesota were performed after 20 weeks. In Washington, a bill aimed at attacking crisis pregnancy centers has died in committee. The bill would have required crisis pregnancy centers to post signs saying that they did not provide abortions and were not providing medical care. A similar law in Baltimore, Maryland was deemed unconstitutional by the courts, but that law did not require the second disclaimer which, in many cases, is patently false. In Utah, a bill was just passed by the State House to allow doctors to refuse to do abortions on moral grounds and not to lose their jobs. Similar protections existed under the law already in Utah, but this legislation would definitely state that their jobs could not be taken from them for refusal.