Abortion entrenched in Washington, but backers ready to hit the trenches
Seattle City Hall saw fire and passion at a Tuesday protest attended by hundreds of women and not a few men, centered over a right approved by Washington voters in 1970, expanded in 1991 and strengthened again last year.
But the right to an abortion is under legislative assault in such states as Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio, as well as in nearby Idaho.
It is threatened, particularly in rural Washington, by the Title X "gag rule" proposed by the Trump administration. Doctors and staff at federally funded women's health clinics would be forbidden even to mention abortion services to clients.
"Why is there a politician in the room when a doctor talks to a woman about her health care choices?" asked Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Going to federal court in Eastern Washington, where clinics would be forced to close, the AG has won an injunction blocking the rule.
But feminist fury was directed at state legislators, "white dudes" in Ferguson's words, who have sought to restrict, outlaw in Alabama's case, abortion rights . . . often setting time limits on pregnancies before women know they are pregnant.
"Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio . . . what the f***?" asked Seattle City Council member Debora Juarez. "I'm saying to open your mouths and tell these people (legislators) to shut up. How dare you tell me what I can do with my body.
https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/Abortion-entrenched-here-but-backers-ready-to-13867686.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi
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Methinks they're kicking hornets' nests on this one. They were much better off when this was just an election day issue that kind of died down when they were in office. By actually carrying out their plans, they are angering a lot of women who were already riled up by Trump.
