A controversial bill that does nothing to create jobs for Floridians, but requires all women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound in the first trimester of their pregnancy was approved by the House Health and Human Services Quality Subcommittee on a party-line vote on Monday. The bill requires women obtaining an abortion to view the ultrasound or certify in writing that they have declined to do so.
With Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed, the mandatory ultrasound bill, HB 1127 advances, despite public opposition and last year’s warning by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, whose veto message stated that personal views about abortion shouldn’t be used to “expand the role of government and coerce people to obtain medical tests or procedures that are not medically necessary.”
“There are thousands and thousands of wanted pregnancies that are terminated every day because of fetal anomalies and unviable fetuses,” Rep. Scott Randolph (D-Orlando) said in a statement. “To force a couple to go in there…and go through a second procedure…regardless of whether it’s an (abdominal) ultrasound or a transvaginal ultrasound…whether you think it’s invasive or not, for anyone going through a trauma like this, it is invasive.”
Added Randolph, “I have heard many members of this Legislature complain about government coming between patients and a doctor, and yet we have a bill here that would mandate that government come between a patient and a doctor. This bill is going to add costs, add difficulty and emotional trauma to thousands and thousands of women each year who want a pregnancy.”
Reps. Mark Pafford (D-West Palm Beach), Betty Reed (D-Tampa), Democratic Caucus members joined Randolph in their opposition to the measure.
