You are probably wondering- how did regulations designed to close most abortion clinics in Virginia (by regulating them like hospitals) pass the Democratic controlled Senate today after failing in the Republican controlled Senate every single year from 2000 until 2007.
The answer is simple: Dick Saslaw, Mary Margaret Whipple, Janet Howell and the rest of the Democratic Senate Leadership Team totally screwed up and allowed this to happen.
Here's what went down. Usually these regulations are killed in the Education and Health committee, which is controlled by pro-choice Senators.
However, Senate Democrats were napping as Ryan McDougle, a pro-life Republican introduced SB924 this year which changed the same Code of Virginia section that anti-abortion activists have been trying to add these regulations into. The Senate passed McDougle's bill 40-0 instead of killing it and demanding the House send this bill over first.
Because of this screw up- the House of Delegates was able to amend the bill to add in the abortion restrictions and send it back to the Senate. When a bill has already passed a body and is amended it goes to the floor- not to committee- and Senate Democratic leaders knew they had 2 Senators on the floor who would vote with the 18 Republicans to pass this regulation into law.
In short, thousands of women will have their lives put at risk because Senate Democrats were not paying attention and allowed this to happen. In a desperate attempt to save their seats from angry voters, Senate Democrats issued a press release today strongly attacking these regulations. But they are the ones who are responsible for this bill becoming law.
Primary. Them. All.
This is what happens when legislators get old and lazy. As good an argument for term limits as I can think of!
Posted by: NWVirginian | February 24, 2011 at 05:01 PM
NWVirginian,
Its not only that. Its the result of what happens when people are content only voting for "not a Republican."
Look at BlueVirginia. They are trumpeting the outrage by Democratic Senators and lambasting the Tea Party as if this was a new strategy of the GOP instead of focusing on the incompetence of the Democrats who let this happen. Elected Democrats have been given too many passes, and they've learned incompetence and selling out is okay as long as the GOP doesn't learn to walk upright.
Posted by: SickofDems | February 24, 2011 at 05:26 PM
The best thing the Republican Senators ever did was hire you.
Posted by: anon | February 24, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Screw you anon. What a complete lie that is, and typical of the pathetic Senate Democrats.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:01 PM
By the way anon, your current internet connection is the General Assembly's connection. Want me to FIOA which computer made that comment and make you a little less "anon"?
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Do it, Ben! Doooooooo it!
Posted by: Kristin Smith | February 24, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Joe Morrissey voted for the amended version of this bill in the House. Is he actually pro-life?
Posted by: Larry Sabato's Hairpiece | February 24, 2011 at 06:23 PM
"typical of the pathetic Senate Democrats" Ben says.
At least we clearly know how he has obviously felt about them for a long time.
Posted by: not anon | February 24, 2011 at 06:24 PM
I don't know if Joe campaigns on that Hairpiece, but his record seems to indicate it on a number of votes.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:27 PM
"Not Anon" is also in the Capitol. Guess the Senate Dems don't like people learning the truth about what they have been doing...
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:28 PM
Hold on: are you seriously saying that by regulating abortion facilities like hospitals, more women's lives will be put at risk?
If so, then in the interest of saving lives you also believe that hospitals should be held to the same standards as abortion facilities, right?
Posted by: Wolfwood | February 24, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Wolfwood, hospitals need to meet those regulations for the type of emergency procedures they handle.
*Statistically 1st trimester abortions are as safe as dental surgery*. Actually a lower percentage of them create the need for emergency care than dental surgery.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:35 PM
I am in the capitol too. What about me?
Posted by: Also In the Capitol | February 24, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Yep, 198.246.136.35 just like "anon" and "not anon".
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Ben you need to run! We're behind you!
Posted by: yoyoyo | February 24, 2011 at 06:37 PM
WTF does the Tea Party have to do with this? Dems got out-manuevered by the Family Foundation, which has tried every trick in the book to get this restrictions imposed. This is bad... very, very bad.
Posted by: Eileen | February 24, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Amen Eileen.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 06:44 PM
NLS, it's even worse. Did you see what the Dems great strategy was today? To call on Cuccinelli for help!
Geniuses...
Posted by: Brian Kirwin | February 24, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Brian, I did see that. He sponsored this legislation in the Senate- and they wanted to delay to ask him if he thought it was constitutional? INSANE.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | February 24, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Would not be surprised if they did get primary opposition. How could they be so dumb or lazy to let this happen!
Posted by: notsophialoren | February 24, 2011 at 08:28 PM
The price of (reproductive) freedom is eternal vigilance, my fellow Virginians.
Posted by: Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh | February 24, 2011 at 08:38 PM
At the risk of being captain obvious, if the senate dem LA's, interns, and assorted caucus staff would spend a little more time doing their jobs and not trolling this site, this wouldnt of happened in the first place. I hope their not planning on advancing to the major leagues any time soon.
Of course, for sanitys sake im assuming it was staff from those IP addresses and not elected officials.
Posted by: Mr Bubbles | February 24, 2011 at 09:29 PM
I don't want to place blame elsewhere, but while the Senate Dems were apparently sleeping, where was NARAL or PP to wake them up?
Posted by: Just a question | February 24, 2011 at 09:48 PM
They dont give a crap about state legislatures, jaq. Local politics have been beneath them for a long time. There's little glory or publicity in it plus its more work and fund raising they'd have to do to compete. To put it bluntly, they only care about fights that put them on news talk shows and the VA senate bill isnt that.
Posted by: Mr Bubbles | February 24, 2011 at 09:53 PM
It's wonderful. Wonderful on substance, and nearly as good politically: no long were Democrat Senators able to campaign as "pro-life," and given the opportunity to evade the tough vote by depending upon Democrat "leaders" to kill meaningful legislation.
I give them credit for doing the right thing. Really didn't expect it.
Posted by: James Young | February 24, 2011 at 10:27 PM
"In short, thousands of women will have their lives put at risk because Senate Democrats were not paying attention and allowed this to happen."
C'mon Ben, that's not at all true. What may be true if abortion mills go out of business due to this is women will be MORE safe and babies will especially be more safe.
Posted by: Rtwng Extrmst | February 24, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Planned Parenthood was too busy assisting pimps abusing underage girls.
Posted by: Response to "Just a question" | February 24, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Primary them all? Do you all have that many angry lesbians willing to run?
Posted by: Gnarly | February 25, 2011 at 07:18 AM
Never would have happened if Hunter Andrews was still in charge. Apparently nobody had their eye on what Dick Cranwell used to call "the end game."
Posted by: Steve Vaughan | February 25, 2011 at 11:59 AM
The Republicans oppose universal law, arguing that the Democrats are underestimating the cost and pushing through changes that polls show Americans oppose. That could complicate passage as House Democrats would rally support again to pass a bill amended by the Senate.
Posted by: plastic surgery marketing guide | February 26, 2011 at 01:43 AM
"Wolfwood, hospitals need to meet those regulations for the type of emergency procedures they handle."
This is not true. An abortion is outpatient surgery, and should be regulated as such. Today, an abortion clinic has fewer health regulations than a dentist or a barber shop.
Posted by: Valley Indie | February 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM
To use a phrase of liberal fame: “If this law saves one life it will be worth it”.
Unfortunately, the poor children who are being killed will not be saved by this law. However, maybe one mother will be saved from an unscrupulous unregulated doctor performing in unsanitary conditions.
Posted by: change | February 28, 2011 at 04:28 PM
This is excellent news! I'm happy to see that there are still some Democrats out there who care for the helpless. (Even if it is only 2 out of 22 of them).
Posted by: A Voter | February 28, 2011 at 04:52 PM
...not to mention the safety of the women choosing to undergo this horrible act.
Posted by: A Voter | February 28, 2011 at 04:56 PM