Abortion Bill Passes Minnesota House, Heads To Governor

SAINT PAUL, MN — A bill that requires Minnesota doctors to ask patients seeking an abortion if they want to view the ultrasound of their fetus is headed for Gov. Mark Dayton's desk. House Republicans and a small number of Democrats voted to pass the measure 79-48. Thursday.

The bill — authored by Republicans Rep. Abigail Whelan of Ramsey and Senator Michelle Benson of Ham Lake — passed the Senate by a vote of 37-30 May 1.

Republicans said the bill will help give women more information before choosing to have an abortion.

"This is about empowering women," Whelan said on the House floor Thursday. "As a woman and as a legislator, I think more information is better."

She said some women end up regretting their abortion, but this measure would help prevent that.

Democrats called the bill coercive and said the state government should not get between doctors and patients.

Rep. Erin Koegel, of Spring Lake Park, said lawmakers should promote access to birth control if they want to reduce abortions.

Planned Parenthood also denounced the bill, calling it unnecessary.

"From day one, Planned Parenthood has opposed this legislation," Sarah Stoesz, president of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, said in a statement.

"Patients deserve their physicians’ best medical judgment and counsel, not unnecessary mandates dictated by politicians," she added.

"While the Minnesota House and Senate have focused on this needless legislation, the Trump Administration is threatening to take away birth control from women in our state and across the country."

Whelan said her measure would not require that an ultrasound be performed before an abortion.

The bill faces tough odds at becoming law, reports the Associated Press. Dayton has said he will veto any legislation he believes is aimed at making it harder to get an abortion.

Read the full text of the bill here.

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