Delegate Dave Albo (R-Fairfax) is chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee. He has unilaterally made the decision to kill all bills related to abortion including Delegate Dave LaRock’s pain capable bill, which would ban abortion after 20 weeks. From the Richmond Times Albo said:
“I don’t have time to work on bills that have no chance of ever becoming law, because I have to stop terrorists from blowing up kids in other states.”
(I don’t know how Albo thinks he can stop terrorists in other states. Isn’t that the job of the President and Homeland Security?)
The left is upset because Albo is also squashing a bill by Del. Jennifer B. Boysko, D-Fairfax ,declaring women have a ‘fundamental right to abortion’. (However women in utero have no rights. Where in the Constitution does this right to abortion exist?)
Thirty-six Delegates, along with nine members of the Senate, have cosponsored Delegate LaRock’s pain capable bill, HB 1473. Those patrons are listed here. The bill deserves a vote in the House of Delegates. (I find it interesting that candidate for Lt. Governor, Jill Vogel, is on the list as a co-patron of the bill but her opponent, Bryce Reeves, is not.)
Albo can’t guarantee Delegate LaRock’s bill won’t pass into law. Yes, McAuliffe is likely to veto it, but there’s also something called a veto override. If the bill doesn’t make it to the floor for a vote, it’s dead, regardless of what the Governor does. It must have a vote.
If you have a problem with Delegate Albo refusing to allow a vote on Delegate Dave LaRock’s bill, please tell the delegates on the Courts of Justice Committee. Their names and contact information can be found here. It is outrageous that one man, Delegate Albo, can make such a decision. Let the other delegates know how you feel. Times is of essence, the bills are to be discussed on Friday night or over the weekend.
More from the Richmond Times here and at the Washington Post here.
12 comments
Appropo that question of yours — Where in the constitution? — here’s the skinny: “The Court held that a woman’s right to an abortion fell within the right
to privacy (recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the
Fourteenth Amendment. The decision gave a woman total autonomy over the
pregnancy during the first trimester and defined different levels of
state interest for the second and third trimesters”
Albo has a somewhat valid point. Let’s face it, the outcome is already predetermined. It will pass the House and Senate on a strictly party line vote, McAuliffe will veto, and the legislature will fall well short of a veto override. The Courts of Justice Committee already hears an insane amount of bills. I was waiting for a particular bill in that committee to be heard on Wednesday, and it took until almost 10pm. This bill will probably have people lined up out into the hallway to testify on both sides and will take up a huge chunk of what little time the committee has left before crossover.
PLEASE STOP creating the circumstances leading to abortion! :
rape and other sexual abuse
lack of access to sexual health services that a person needs (there should be no wrong door to get accurate info and caring services)
lack of access to contraception (there should be no wrong door to get appropriate services)
lack of access to mental health counseling (there should be available culturally competent services for every Virginian – men, women, child, family – in need of counseling)
lack of access to affordable child care (no family should seek abortion because they can’t see how to care for the child)
lack of access to affordable, adequate housing (no family should seek abortion because they can’t see how to include a child in the household)
etc
Who has a lack of access to birth control? It can be bought at the grocery store! And the BC pill is very inexpensive. How many women per year become pregnant from rape? Why can’t they carry those babies to term and place the child for adoption? Tens of thousands of couples are desperate to adopt. Nothing you have said justifies an abortion after 20 weeks.
If families can’t afford childcare, perhaps they shouldn’t have become pregnant, or they can place the child for adoption, a very noble and loving thing to do.
That’s some real “turning rat poison mixed with sulfuric acid into lemonade” thinking Jeanine.
Chris — You must be kidding. If thousands of couples are desperate to adopt, why is allowing them the opportunity to raise a child “turning rat poison mixed with sulfuric acid into lemonade”? Oh, I’m certain that you might believe that brainless lumps of tissue are unable to feel pain, so let’s put that theory to the test. Go to the nearest door and stick your head through, and with the other hand, slam the door shut.
Because I don’t believe that rape is a positive experience no matter what the outcome may be. I didn’t know there were rape proponents in this country anymore, but it looks like they do exist here at least.
Chris k — Never did Jeanine advocate the rape of women, nor did I, which denotes your ability to converse honesty. She and I share the view that a fetus chooses naught it’s parents, and is therefore not guilty of crimes warranting death penalties.
Reading is fundamental, if we can’t get that far I bid you adiue, and best of luck on future conversations.
“Please STOP creating the circumstances leading to abortion!”???
Do we need to explain how women become pregnant? Shouldn’t you have at least mentioned personal accountability?
She seems to be saying women are just too stupid to choose the right men and use birth control until they can afford to have a child. Women can’t handle any of this so they need the government to take care of them.
actually, we want gov’t out of our lives. I realize that you like the gov’t telling you what to do and what to think and what religion you should be and why you should send your money to wall street thugs and why you can love the person you love, but the rest of us want gov’t to stay away from our lives.