Republicans advance anti-abortion legislation during control of Minnesota House
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Minnesota House Republicans advanced a pair of anti-abortion bills Wednesday through a committee, underscoring their intention to press ahead with measures now that could languish if power shifts to shared control next month.
The bills made it through the House Health Finance and Policy Committee, where the GOP currently has a majority. One addresses medical care that must be provided when a baby is born alive despite an abortion and the other provides grant money to “crisis pregnancy centers,” non-medical centers that discourage people from seeking abortion.
To become law, both would need to gain 68 House votes and get through a Senate narrowly led by Democrats and the signature of DFL Gov. Tim Walz.
Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, R-Fredenberg Township, is sponsor of the bill for the grant program.
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“If there’s only one option, there's not choice,” Zeleznikar said. “This bill is going to allow women to have the support to make the decisions they want.”
It establishes a grant program allocating $3 million to “crisis pregnancy centers” and $1 million to what they call “maternity homes.”
Lauren Rhodes testified in support. She said Guiding Star Wakota, a “crisis pregnancy center” in West St. Paul, supported her unplanned pregnancy
"When I came home with my baby, Wakota stepped in with cribs, car seats, life coaching and a network of mothers who lifted me up when I had nothing left, they helped me rebuild,” Rhodes said. “Because of them, I stand before you today, not just as an educator, but as a mother of a kindergarten graduate and a national wrestling runner up."
Clinics that would provide abortions or refer people to an abortion provider would not be eligible for the grant money.
Wendy Underwood, deputy Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health, said the types of “crisis pregnancy centers” in the bill often do not provide evidence-based services.
“These centers not only fail to adhere to standards of care,” Underwood said. “But they may also mislead women by providing medically inaccurate information about health risks associated with abortion care to dissuade clients from seeking this option.”
The other bill says an infant who is “born alive as a result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person, and accorded immediate protection under the law.”
Backers say it offers a measure of protection.
“This bill reinstates protections for babies that survive abortion, ensuring that they receive medically necessary care to preserve the life and health of that baby,” said Rep. Krista Knudsen, R- Lake Shore.
But during the committee’s consideration, Dr. Erin Stevens with the Minnesota section of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology called the testimony of supporters misleading.
“That there are nefarious doctors out there aborting healthy-term pregnancies and that throughout that procedure something goes wrong — it’s a botched abortion — and we end up with a healthy happy baby that sits on the table and dies without anyone doing anything,” Stevens said, “that does not happen.”
Both bills were sent out of committee and could make it to the floor of the House before the special election on March 11.
That election will determine if Republicans gain a clear majority of 68 seats or if Democrats will tie the chamber at 67 seats for each party. The district covering parts of Roseville and Shoreview has traditionally favored DFLers.