House Debates Abortion Issue, Not Jobs or Education

As the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed this week, states may not place undue burdens on women seeking legal abortions.

Yet in Pennsylvania, Republican-sponsored House Bill 1948 is so regressive and demeaning to women that you would think our state’s GOP representatives want to take Pennsylvania back to 1948 -- decades before the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade.

“My opponent this fall, Rep. Tom Quigley, is a sponsor of HB 1948. Once again, lawmakers want to interfere with decisions that should be made between a woman and her doctor,” said Joe Ciresi, candidate for state representative in the 146th.

If passed, it would make abortions 20 weeks after conception illegal (the current law is 24 weeks).

Additionally, Republicans moved on this bill without holding hearings or soliciting input from medical professionals such as the PA Medical Society and the PA Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

HB 1948, which Gov. Wolf promised to veto if it reached his desk, would also ban the “dilation and evacuation” medical procedure. Doctors say this is the safest method to remove a fetus from the mother after the first trimester.

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Ciresi, a resident of Limerick with his wife and son, has served as a Spring-Ford Area School Board director for 10 years. For the last 14 years, he has worked as the Director of Sales and Promotions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The 146th District includes the boroughs of Trappe, Royersford and part of Pottstown, as well as Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove and Perkiomen townships.