PROVIDENCE—A House bill that would allow for women to be more fully informed about the procedures and risks they would face in having an abortion has once again been held for further study, with one representative accusing a committee chairman of playing politics to keep the bill from moving forward.
Rep. Karen L. MacBeth, D-Cumberland, says House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare Chairman Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, D-Warwick, broke the rules when he wouldn’t recognize a challenge she made in committee to his ruling that tabled the Women’s Right to Know proposal, instead of sending it to the House floor to be voted on.
“We had the majority,” Rep. MacBeth insists, citing the intentions she and several of her colleagues had to send the bill to the floor for a vote rather than to table it.
“When Rep. Jon Brien made the motion [to table it, with the real intention of having enough votes to defeat that motion, thereby sending the bill to the floor], there were five people in there that would have voted to send it to the floor. The five of us would have voted ‘no’.”
But although Rep. MacBeth seconded the motion, she says the chairman refused to allow a vote on Rep. Brien’s motion to table all bills before the committee because he knew those in favor of the measure would push it to the floor for a vote.
“Chairman McNamara refused to acknowledge the motion from Jon Brien to hold for further study, ad he wouldn’t recognize my challenge. He broke the rules,” Rep. MacBeth said.
Instead, she says, the chairman seized an opportunity to stifle any vote by waiting until he had enough votes present to ensure the bill would indeed be held for further study, thereby tabling it and keeping it from a vote.
Chairman McNamara vigorously denies Rep. MacBeth’s assertions.
“Rep. MacBeth couldn’t be further from the truth,” Rep. McNamara said.
He said that some of my colleagues had asked him to delay taking any action on bills until they could also be present.
“It was a courtesy that I routinely extend to members of our committee, including Rep. MacBeth,” Rep. McNamara said.
“A lot of the criticism here is very disingenuous,” he added, noting how he had actually saved the bill, which could have been killed on the floor in a vote.
Instead, he says, the bill could be considered again.
Asked if it would be a priority to bring the Women’s Right to know bill forward for reconsideration, Rep. McNamara said that it would be up to members of the House leadership to initiate further consideration.
“We’re in constant discussions relative to this and several issues,” he said.
Rep. Brien was unavailable for comment.
The bill, known as H-7377—Women’s Right to Know—and sponsored by Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, would require fully informed consent before an abortion and also provide a 24-hour waiting period for women considering having an abortion.
Carol Owens, coordinator of the Diocese of Providence’s Office of Life & Family Ministry, offered testimony on behalf of he diocese and also as a private citizen.
“Passing the Women’s Right to Know law would place Rhode Island among the many states that already have this law in effect and allow the women seeking abortion well-balanced information they need to make a decision whether or not to abort and save many years of physical and emotional anguish,” Owens testified. “A 24-48 hour waiting period would allow her time to review pertinent data.”
Father Bernard A. Healey, governmental liaison for the Diocese of Providence, testified that women need more information to make better-informed decisions in an age in which the abortion industry uses euphemism to deny the reality that a human life is ended with abortion.
“At times, the pressures are exacerbated by counselors who believe that abortion is the best choice for the woman,” Fr. Healey testified.
“I believe that all sides on the abortion issue can come together to support the Women’s Right to Know because it does empower women to make informed choices, recognizes that abortion is a serious medical procedure, and affirms that the life of an unborn child is at stake in every abortion decision.”
Barth E. Bracy, executive director of Rhode Island Right to Life, was one of several individuals offering testimony at the hearing, which was held on April 28 at the State House.
“The abortion industry wants you to believe that the Women’s Right to Know Act is anti-choice,” Bracy testified. “In fact, the Women’s Right to Know Act does nothing whatsoever to negate choice, rather, it ensures that women are empowered with information. Information does not negate choice. Information enhances a person’s ability to choose what is best for them.”
File Photo: Laura Kilgus
TESTIMONY: At a state house hearing last June, Rep. Karen L. MacBeth, D-Cumberland offered her testimony in support of the Women’s Right to Know Act. The bill would include a 24 hour waiting period for decisions regarding abortion as well as provide a woman with important information about the development of a fetus and abortion alternatives.
