Dr. Michael New, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, has crunched the numbers from the Guttmacher Institute and relays that a record 90 state pro-life laws have been passed so far this year. He says there is generally a surge when Democrats are in control in Washington.
"During the Clinton administration, 12 states passed pro-life parental involvement laws; 11 states passed pro-life informed consent laws," Dr. New recalls. "During the Obama administration, over 400 state level pro-life laws were passed. So when Democrats control the White House, pro-lifers really put more effort into passing good protective laws at the state level."
So far in 2021, since Joe Biden entered office, six states have passed gestational age limits, and eight states have passed laws limiting the availability of chemical abortion drugs.
"Governor Kristi Noem (R) of South Dakota signed a bill to protect preborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome," Dr. New continues. "Governor Doug Ducey (R) of Arizona has signed legislation that would protect preborn children who are diagnosed with genetic abnormalities."
One of the things that may have motivated the states to get the legislation passed is the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court, which, in Dr. New's assessment, has six justices who might be friendly to restrictions on abortion.
But for the first time in 45 years, Congress is considering a federal appropriations bill that would fund abortion on demand for any reason during the entire pregnancy. It is minus the Hyde Amendment, which forbids use of tax dollars for abortion.
"This is a horrible effort by pro-abortion Democrats and the Biden administration to make us use our tax dollars to pay to kill unborn children," asserts Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. "It must absolutely be stopped."
Additionally, there are no conscience protections for people in the medical field.
"The pro-abortion Democrats in Congress and the Biden administration want to force doctors and nurses to help kill children, and whether their conscience, their moral beliefs, whatever it is that is holding them back or tells them they shouldn't be doing it -- that doesn't matter," the pro-lifer laments.
Even medical personnel with strongly-held religious beliefs could be forced to take part in the life-ending procedure. So as members of Congress will likely be on their home turf during the August recess, Tobias encourages voters to see contact them and request that both the Hyde Amendment and conscience protections be restored to the bill.
