Less than 24 hours after an emotional public hearing, the Vermont House Committee on Human Services approved a bill establishing abortion rights in state law.
The Thursday morning vote on H.57 was 8-3, with all three Republican members voting no. The yes votes came from the panel’s six Democrats plus Reps. Sandy Haas (P-Rochester) and Kelly Pajala (I-Londonderry).
The bill was amended in an effort to clarify its intent. Opponents had claimed that H.57 would open the door to unlimited abortion rights. Supporters argued that the bill would not supersede federal laws, and that state law has contained no limits on abortion access since 1972 without any nightmare scenarios coming to pass.
The new version of H.57 eliminates a provision declaring that fetuses have no rights. It also adds language specifying that the bill would not supersede the federal ban on late-term dilation and extraction procedures, which abortion opponents refer to as “partial-birth abortions.”
Fetuses currently have no rights in Vermont law due to the 1989 Vermont Supreme Court decision in State v. Oliver. The case involved a traffic crash resulting in the death of a fetus. The court ruled that there was no legal basis to charge the offending driver with negligent operation of a vehicle resulting in death.
The House Judiciary Committee will take up the bill next week.
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So it’s a bill that doesn’t change anything? Yeah that makes sense.
Why doesn’t Vermont just secede? If you’re just making statements to make statements why not a real one?
Why is the legislature spending time on this do-nothing bill? Once again our legislature reacts on an emotional level to a non-issue (in this state anyway) rather than tackling real problems that need to be solved. If ever a womans right to obtain an abortion is threatened in Vermont, Ill be fighting right along with those in favor of the right to choose but until then, how about focusing on actual issues?
“but until then, how about focusing on actual issues?”
You mean, like:
aging population and lack of youth in the state
too many schools for our tiny statewide school age population
crushing property tax burden
lack of cell service
regulating economic activity out of existence
poor business climate
no economic opportunities for youth
lack of affordable housing
unfunded pension liabilities
disproportionate size of government to state population
Well, gee, why would we expect our legislature to work on those boring issues when there are so many emotional, fun legislative “statements” they can make — even if they result in the state getting sued again and again?
Hard work to tackle tough, persistent, critical issues? Really, you expect too much of the legislature.
Thank you, John Walters, for your excellent coverage of H,57.
It is good that the new version eliminates a provision declaring that fetuses have no rights and states that partial birth abortions will be banned. Unfortunatley, H57 still allows abortions all 9 months of pregnancy. H57 has no regulations or safeguards for women’s health. The real purpose is to protect abortion providers as they cannot be prosecuted for doing any abortion. Why has the UVM Medical Center changed its abortion policy to allow 2nd & 3rd trimester elective abortions?
You just watch they will pass H-57 then make amendments to abort(kill) a newborn. After all the legislators want to keep up with NY. Vermont legislators are committing murders legally. Vt will be known as the pot grower baby killer state. Fetuses are human and have every right as you or me. The baby hears, feels pain, suck it’s thumb, moves, kicks. A baby is HUMAN…
Why not allow testimony from Jill Stanick who held a BABY for 45 minutes until the BABY died. The BABY was victim of a failed late term abortion that was decided because the Baby was not “perfect” being found to have DS. Lax laws not allow reviving or attempting to sustain life of a victim of failed late term abortion. Despite her testimony before congress this barbaric act continues.. We can end abortion.. it is called Birth Control free of charge for most, at your local clinic..
Or sacrificing 9 short months of your life to give life to another awaiting adoption.
It is hard to believe we would even have to debate this issue..