Pa. House Passes Bill To Impose Tougher Regulations On Abortion Clinics
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The state House has passed and sent to the Senate a bill that would impose tougher regulations on abortion clinics in Pennsylvania. But the fate of the measure, which is opposed by abortion rights advocates, is unclear in the Senate.
Opponents of the House bill, such as Allegheny County Democrat Dan Frankel, say it will force abortion clinics to make unnecessary upgrades that will drive them out of business.
"Like the sizes of elevators, that will make their buildings unusable and drive up their costs. Or create insane demands that nurses hang out in empty clinics on days when procedures aren't even taking place."
But Chester County Republican John Lawrence says opponents are ignoring the lessons from what happened with Dr. Kermit Gosnell's clinic in West Philadelphia.
"They are the exact same arguments that created a culture of willful ignorance."
The House bill now goes to the Senate, where the chair of the committee vetting abortion clinic legislation says it will be reviewed, but in the meantime, a less controversial Senate bill she is sponsoring is scheduled for a committee vote the week after next.
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio
