House Bill 1510 – the Gestational Age Act – passed the Mississippi Senate with an amendment that removes criminal penalties on doctors who perform abortions after 15 weeks of preganncy, and will now head back to the House for concurrence. If the House accepts those changes, the bill will go to the Governor for his signature. Now is the time to put pressure on the Governor to veto this bill.
HB 1510 would limit abortion to 15 weeks. If it becomes law, it will be the most restrictive abortion bill in the U.S. The real agenda from some state legislators is to ban abortion outright. Since they can’t, they are using this restrictive bill to put abortion out of reach. Instead of limiting health care options, we need solutions that improve health and improve a woman’s ability to make the best reproductive health decisions for herself.
Take action and tell Governor Bryant to veto HB 1510.
In House debate of the bill, Representative Sonya Williams-Barnes highlighted the hypocrisy of a state that claims to care about the welfare of “unborn children,” yet refuses to expand Medicaid and other health programs that would make a significant positive impact on the healthcare of Mississippi youth. “Is this really about the healthcare of women and children,” she asked, “or is this just another way of telling a woman what to do with her body and when to do it?”
It is not the legislature’s job to interfere with a woman’s decision about whether and when to become a parent. Their job is to promote people’s health and well-being, not restrict access and cause additional burdens upon the state.
In the 45 years since Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has never upheld a ban below 20 weeks. If it is passed and becomes law, HB 1510 will end up at the center of a legal battle, wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars in legal fees. Mississippi can’t afford to use your precious dollars in that way.
Dial (601) 359-3770 or (601) 359-3150. Call Governor Bryant now and tell him that this bill is unnecessary and that Mississippi can’t afford a proposal like this.
Phone Script:
- I am calling you to urge you to veto HB 1510, the 15-week abortion ban bill.
- This bill will cost the state in more ways than one. Not only will it end up at the center of a legal battle, forcing taxpayers like me to foot the bill, but it also hurts a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, putting families at risk.
