Virginia to regulate abortion centers

From LifeNews.com:

After a Democratic-controlled state Senate committee that traditionally kills pro-life bills defeated the abortion clinic regulations measure, Del. Kathy Byron, a Republican, on Monday put forward an amendment to SB 924, a Senate bill on health and safety regulations for hospitals. The amendment essentially attached the pro-life bill the Virginia state Senate Education and Health Committee killed earlier this month to the legislation.

Because of the change to the Senate bill, it went back to the state Senate for a concurrence vote.

After a long and passionate debate on the Senate floor, senators voted 20-20 and pro-life Lt. Governor Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote to send the bill to Governor Bob McDonnell, who will sign the measure into law.

Abortion is surgery, and the offices that do them should be regulated like other outpatient surgical centers. Despite pro-abortion slogans, legality does not guarantee safety. After the Gosnell scandal, it should be obvious that giving abortion businesses special treatment is terrible public policy. I’m shocked that the vote in the Virginia Senate was so close. Still, the fact that the legislation did pass is great news for women and babies in Virginia.