By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-957788.mp3
Tallahassee, FL –
Several bills dealing with abortion have been filed in the Florida legislature this year. They come after an election cycle that saw more conservatives elected to the state. As Lynn Hatter reports, the abortion proposals are beginning to make their way through a legislature that is more receptive to the proposals.
The debate on abortion has begun with the introduction of two proposals in the Florida Senate. The first bill, sponsored by Senator Steven Wise, a Jacksonville Republican, would bar taxpayer-subsidized health plans set up under the federal health care law from covering abortions. Wise says the bill simply enacts the language already in place in the federal healthcare bill.
"Many of us would prefer to preclude elective abortion in all health plans. That might prove impossible. For now we are satisfied that when purchasing health insurance with public funds that insurance will not cover elective abortions. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, this does not prohibit elective abortions. It simply ensures that your tax dollars would not pay for them."
Under Wise's proposal a person buying insurance could purchase additional abortion coverage for an extra charge. It also includes a provision that provides coverage for instances of medical necessity, rape or incest. The bill has the support of the Florida Catholic Conference. Its Assistant Health Director Michael Sheedy says the bill is good policy.
"I think the intent of Senator Wise's bill to say look, if you get a subsidy to purchase your insurance, it's not going to cover elective abortion. And we think that should be the policy of the state."
Wise's bill went through the committee relatively smoothly, but another one, a constitutional amendment proposal to stop taxpayer- funded abortions all-together, generated even more debate. The bill by Senator Anitere Flores, a Republican from Miami, looks to bar all taxpayer funded abortions with the exception of medical necessity. But it leaves out rape and incest. And that bothers lawmakers like Senator Mike Fasano, a self-proclaimed pro-life Republican.
"I appreciate and support what you're doing, but I believe you have to have the other two exemptions in there, for incest and rape. I'll vote for it today, but not on the floor unless those two exemptions are in there."
But Flores defends her bill, saying it's a question of personal belief.
Sound- "Either you believe it's a life, or it's not. And if you believe it's a life, then we need to protect it, regardless of other things that may have happened."
Pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood and Equality Florida oppose the proposals. And they call it a question of rights. In her opposition, Stephanie Kunkel who heads the Florida Arm of Planned Parenthood says the legislature's proposed bans on abortion are contradictory to its stated belief in the right to privacy and medical decision making. And she cites Senate President Mike Haridopolos' words on a bill that would allow Florida to opt-out of the federal healthcare law.
"Senate bill 2 was about his/her healthcare decisions without interference from the federal government and we believe in patient-centered, not government centered, healthcare. Planned Parenthood absolutely agrees that healthcare should be patient-centered not government centered. Whether to purchase a health insurance plan that offers abortion coverage should be treated no differently."
And not every Republican lawmaker feels the Flores' amendment proposal should be in the state's constitution. Senator Mike Bennett says it goes too far.
"Why are we walking on the rights of other people? I happen to be anti-abortion. But I also believe in personal rights. Senator Fasano's probably the strongest one up here's who has constantly been on the pro-life, and even he has said you have to have the exception in there for rape and incest."
Despite the disagreements both proposals cleared the committee, but still have other stops to make before going to the house floor. There are 18 abortion bills that have been filed, from one that would make it harder for minors to get waivers from a judge, to another proposal that calls for women to have ultrasounds prior to an abortion even if it's not medically necessary.