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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]send an email to all of the republican delegates urging them not to support the bill -- they are supposed to vote on it today (2/21) when they convene at noon. here are all of their email addresses in one handy list:
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I wrote to the list.  Here is the response I got from one delegate:

First, I think you have a misunderstanding of what HB 1 does.  At this time the only effect of HB 1 is to create a tort to allow parents of an unborn child killed as the result of an assault or accident involving negligence (such as a drunk driver hitting a vehicle with a pregnant mother inside) to file a wrongful death suit for that child.  The legislation which is almost identical to a 26 year old Missouri  statute will have no effect on abortion, contraception or assisted conception.  The Missouri statute was upheld as Constitutional by the Supreme Court specifically because language in the bill restricts what its effects are based on Supreme Court Cases including Roe v. Wade and  Griswold v. Connecticut (affirming the lawfulness of contraception).  In addition HB 1 specifically exempts assisted conception such as IVF in section 7 of the bill.  If Roe v. Wade were to be overturned by the Supreme Court HB 1 would allow Virginia to consider changing its abortion laws but until and unless that happens the only effect is the tort I outlined above.

Secondly, HB 462, is not my legislation though I did vote in favor of it.  It is sponsored by Delegate Kathy Byron.

The issue is one of women's safety.  HB 462 will add ultrasound to the informed consent requirements in Virginia.  Planned Parenthood requires ultrasound to date pregnancy because it is the standard of care to ensure the correct procedure is done.  For example if a woman has an ectopic pregnancy or is further along in her pregnancy that she first thought she cannot be given RU-486 because it would be life threatening.  Below is a quote from a Planned Parenthood hotline with regard to their requirements for an abortion procedure.  All abortions require an ultrasound and a pill abortion requires two trans vaginal ultrasounds, one before the pill is given and one later.  Consent for the ultrasound is required to obtain an abortion.  As a result, this legislation would not require anything more invasive that what is already done but would only require that all other clinics meet this same standard of care and that the woman be offered the opportunity to view the ultrasound.

Sincerely,

Delegate Bob Marshall 
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