Abortion Debate Day 2
April 1st, 2015 by flanewsA day after pro choice voices were stifled in a Florida Senate abortion debate, the House got an earful. As Matt Galka tells us, the result was the same.
A heated abortion debate boiled over on the second straight day in the Florida Capitol.
The House’s version of an abortion waiting period bill drew an expected crowd. Under legislation from 23 year old freshman Representative Jennifer Sullivan (R-Mount Dora), women would have to meet a doctor for a face to face visit before an abortion, then wait 24 hours to go through with the procedure if they still want to.
“I know in my community, the people I’ve worked with the ones I’ve referenced, a lot of women haven’t taken time, a lot of women, especially younger women, being young myself, have seen that they’re very much pressured in the decision,” said Sullivan.
Many of the people speaking were the same people who got shut out from a Tuesday discussion in the Senate.
Outbursts in Tuesday’s Senate made way for emotional testimony in the House.
“I had a friend of mine that took me to get an abortion illegally,” said Dian Alarcon through an interpreter.
Melisa Maderas says she had an abortion at 17 and went on to earn her doctorate. She says the waiting period is all about trying to talk women out of going through with the procedure.
“We’ve already thought about it, women already spent time talking to their families, friends, having thought about it for themselves, deciding that abortion was the right choice for them and their futures, so we don’t need 24 hours to wait. What they want is for us to change our minds,” said Madera.
The third House committee for the legislation didn’t change its mind. They passed the bill 12 to 5 along party lines.
The waiting period bill now awaits a floor vote from the House. The Senate version has two more stops.
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