Orie introduces legislation to protect the unborn

 State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40) today introduced two pro-life measures that would prohibit tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions and ensure that parents provide written consent before minors can terminate a pregnancy.

 Orie’s first bill — Senate Bill 1474 — would reinforce existing state law by making it clear that no taxpayer dollars can be used to finance an elective abortion.  

 She explained that with the passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states are required to set up high-risk insurance pools for those with pre-existing conditions.  Recently, the federal government approved the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s high-risk insurance plan.  

 “While the Insurance Department’s plan states that elective abortions are not covered, there is a concern that the term ‘elective abortion’ is too loose and might be construed to cover any abortion procedure,” Orie said.  “My legislation will ensure that those who choose to have an abortion cannot use taxpayer dollars to do so.”

“It is vital that we make it abundantly clear that that Pennsylvania taxpayers’ money will not be used to pay for elective abortions,” said Charlene Bashore, Legislative Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.  “That is what our longstanding law has been, but the implementation of the recently-enacted federal law has caused some confusion over this policy.  We are grateful that Senator Orie is willing to help ensure that Pennsylvanians’ taxpayers will not be paying for these procedures.”  

Senator Orie’s second bill — Senate Bill 1475 — would amend Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act by requiring a notarized signature from a parent prior to a minor undergoing an abortion.  Currently only a signature is required. 
According to Charlene Bashore, “Studies have shown that parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision is crucial.  Anything that can be done to encourage that involvement would benefit both the minor and her unborn child.”

The bill would also require the Department of Health to issue an annual report listing the number abortions conducted after a judicial bypass has been obtained.  A judicial bypass is when a minor receives permission to get an abortion from a judge, rather than from their parents.  Currently, the Department of Health publishes an annual report but does not list the number of judicial bypasses.

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