The Doug Mastriano clones in the Pennsylvania state legislature plan to outlaw abortion using a favorite Republican strategy of using low-turnout races to push amendments to a state constitution. Instead of passing the budget, they did this.
The first step was taken last night, but the long-term goal is to have a constitutional amendment against abortion on the ballot in 2019.
I cannot imagine how furious @PAHouseGOP leaders are at Kim Ward and Doug Mastriano for jamming them up at last minute with this constitutional abortion ban. Kills #pabudget coverage and puts their vulnerable members at greater risk. The internal PA GOP chaos continues. pic.twitter.com/VZ2HqU96Qe
— J.J. Abbott 📮 (@jjabbott) July 8, 2022
Keep this in mind, Senate Republicans.
ICYMI: Republicans in the upper chamber advanced a proposal to add language to the Pennsylvania Constitution stating that the governing document does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding for the procedure.https://t.co/YdC4r6Bjxg
— Pennsylvania Capital-Star (@PennCapitalStar) July 8, 2022
Don't let the Senate Republicans forget this.
— PaSenateDems (@PaSenateDems) July 8, 2022
They waited until 11:30pm to sneak pass a Constitutional Amendment banning abortions in Pennsylvania.
They don't want to hear debate.
They don't want to see your protests & rallies.
They just want to take away your rights. pic.twitter.com/ictNjHicGz
There's a rule in the legislature that prevents any voting after 11:00 PM.
— Unimportant (@Unimportitis) July 8, 2022
The GOP exploited the lack of a budget to push this through in the dead of night.
When this comes up on a ballot, vote "NO."
This is a DISGRACE. It is 11:45 p.m., we have not finished passing a state budget, but the Senate R's forced a Committee vote on an abortion ban. Women and our allies will not stand for this. This is an attack on reproductive justice, on OUR RIGHTS and on OUR BODIES. #PABudget pic.twitter.com/9wOouQyLkN
— Senator Katie Muth (@SenatorMuth) July 8, 2022
In PA, the process is they need to pass through both chambers twice, in consecutive legislative sessions, then they hit the ballot. If Rs time the anti-abortion one correctly, it will hit the ballot in an off year, low turnout election with least amount of voter participation.
— Senator Amanda Cappelletti 🌻 (@SenCappelletti) July 8, 2022
A Democratic governor is the only thing standing between PA and an abortion ban. A constitutional amendment would get around that.
— Caroline Kitchener (@CAKitchener) July 8, 2022
The PA senate amended the rules to discuss this after 11pm last night 👇 https://t.co/wkazO1PpMT
The effects of these bans are already being felt in other states:
There is some absolutely bonkers shit happening in the dead of night in the Pennsylvania Senate right now thanks to the PA GOP. They are forcing through a vote on a PA Constitutional Amendment that would declare a fertilized egg a person. Bye bye IVF & abortion. Miscarry? Prison. https://t.co/oGCheFCGuT
— Elizabeth H.C. McLaughlin (she/her) (@ECMcLaughlin) July 8, 2022
Oh here we go . My first patient with vaginal bleeding and cramping . The treatment for abortion and miscarriage is the same and I can’t give it in Texas . What am I supposed to do ? She can have significant blood loss and infection if not treated . Tell me Abbott 🤬
— @pelleggi2 MD (@pelleggi2) July 7, 2022
Thread 1 of 2: A woman I had never met before messaged me on twitter last night. She was pregnant in the ER hemorrhaging waiting on a doctor. She believed she was having a miscarriage and wanted to know if she should leave without treatment for fear of being arrested.
— Sara Spector (@Miriam2626) July 7, 2022
the notion that someone is going to be taken off of medication as common as methotrexate, based on the chance of miscarriage of an unplanned pregnancy, and have to suffer the symptoms of their autoimmune disease is unconscionable and the antithesis of medical/health care https://t.co/LJhqnVnYOk
— Sunju 94%Bread Raybeck (@gat0gateaux) June 29, 2022
I live in Virginia. I’m on low-dose naltrexone as an off-label treatment for long Covid to reduce clotting. My pharmacy won’t refill my Rx because it can cause miscarriage.
— Oyez Cómo Va, Esq. (@FemiYahtzee) July 4, 2022
You will lose women. Be on guard. Never miss an election.