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Virginia Politics: Va. Gov. Northam faces fierce conservative backlash over abortion bill
Virginia Politics
Va. Gov. Northam faces fierce conservative backlash over abortion bill
By Laura Vozzella
January 30 at 3:18 PM
RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam faced intense backlash on Wednesday for comments he made about a fellow Democrat’s abortion-rights bill, whose sponsor said it would allow abortion right up to the final moments of pregnancy. ... In a radio interview, Northam was asked about the bill brought by Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) which sought to roll back restrictions on abortion, including those that take place in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Virginia law allows third trimester abortions in cases in which a woman’s life or health is at grave risk, as certified by three physicians. Tran’s bill would require certification by just one physician, and allow the procedure to take place in a clinic as opposed to a hospital, among other changes.
[Read the bill here]
At a hearing on the bill Tuesday, a Republican delegate had quizzed Tran on whether her bill would allow abortions in the final stages of pregnancy, when the mother is about to give birth. She said it would. The committee rejected her bill.
On WTOP’s “Asks the Governor” program Wednesday, NBC4’s Julie Carey asked Northam if he supported Tran’s bill. ... Northam, a pediatric neurologist, took issue with one aspect of Tran’s bill — related to whether multiple physicians should have to sign off on a late-term abortion — but otherwise seemed to tread lightly on the specifics. He instead spoke broadly about his belief that politicians should leave abortion to women and their doctors.
“I wasn’t there … and I certainly can’t speak for Delegate Tran, but ... first thing I would say is, this is why decisions such as this should be made by providers – physicians and the mothers and fathers that are involved,” he said. ... Northam went on to explain that a third-trimester abortions may involve a fetus that has severe deformities and is not viable.
....
Laura Vozzella covers Virginia politics for The Washington Post. Before joining The Post, she was a political columnist and food writer at the Baltimore Sun, and she has also worked for the Associated Press, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Hartford Courant. Follow https://twitter.com/LVozzella
Va. Gov. Northam faces fierce conservative backlash over abortion bill
By Laura Vozzella
January 30 at 3:18 PM
RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam faced intense backlash on Wednesday for comments he made about a fellow Democrat’s abortion-rights bill, whose sponsor said it would allow abortion right up to the final moments of pregnancy. ... In a radio interview, Northam was asked about the bill brought by Del. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) which sought to roll back restrictions on abortion, including those that take place in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Virginia law allows third trimester abortions in cases in which a woman’s life or health is at grave risk, as certified by three physicians. Tran’s bill would require certification by just one physician, and allow the procedure to take place in a clinic as opposed to a hospital, among other changes.
[Read the bill here]
At a hearing on the bill Tuesday, a Republican delegate had quizzed Tran on whether her bill would allow abortions in the final stages of pregnancy, when the mother is about to give birth. She said it would. The committee rejected her bill.
On WTOP’s “Asks the Governor” program Wednesday, NBC4’s Julie Carey asked Northam if he supported Tran’s bill. ... Northam, a pediatric neurologist, took issue with one aspect of Tran’s bill — related to whether multiple physicians should have to sign off on a late-term abortion — but otherwise seemed to tread lightly on the specifics. He instead spoke broadly about his belief that politicians should leave abortion to women and their doctors.
“I wasn’t there … and I certainly can’t speak for Delegate Tran, but ... first thing I would say is, this is why decisions such as this should be made by providers – physicians and the mothers and fathers that are involved,” he said. ... Northam went on to explain that a third-trimester abortions may involve a fetus that has severe deformities and is not viable.
....
Laura Vozzella covers Virginia politics for The Washington Post. Before joining The Post, she was a political columnist and food writer at the Baltimore Sun, and she has also worked for the Associated Press, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Hartford Courant. Follow https://twitter.com/LVozzella
