Delegate C. Matt Fariss

We’ve completed the fourth week of the 2020 Session, and I’d like to take a moment to share with you the latest news from Richmond.

During Monday’s floor session, there were substantive amendments submitted to the majority’s legislation rolling back protections for women seeking abortions. The amendments to this legislation would protect the most vulnerable.

One would ensure that no abortion provider in Virginia could profit in any way from the trade in fetal tissues obtained through abortion. The other amendment would write the definition of a “born alive” infant into the code of Virginia, while requiring that any infant born alive as a result of an attempted abortion should receive immediate hospital care.

Democrats ruled that both amendments were unrelated to the underlying bill, and when pressed to explain why, they declined. For years, Democrats have said abortion should be between a woman and her doctor. Now, it’s between a woman, her nurse, a nurse’s aide, etc.

There’s more to this story in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.