Advocates for tighter restrictions on abortion clinics are starting a last-minute push to get the long-sought measure through the Virginia Senate before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment on Saturday. The Virginia House of Delegates added an amendment to a bill this week to reclassify as hospitals abortion clinics that perform five or more first-trimester abortions per month. Abortion facilities are currently regulated as outpatient clinics, similar to the way oral or cosmetic surgery centers are regulated.
| In Richmond Wednesday |
| — The House of Delegates signed off on a $30 million trust fund to address the state’s depleted services for the intellectually disabled and help transition people from institutions to community-based care. Virginia has about a month to address findings from the Department of Justice blasting the state for its ineffective system and prevent a potential federal lawsuit. |
| — The House and Senate delayed the deadline for budget negotiators to agree on amendments to the state’s two-year budget until midnight Thursday; no deal was reached by the original deadline of midnight on Tuesday. |
| — The General Assembly approved legislation that would create a statewide inspector general’s office to combat waste, fraud and abuse in state agencies, consolidating existing operations at the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, and Transportation. |
Proponents of the measure, such as Sen. Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, argue the stricter regulations are aimed at protecting women’s health.
“Surgical outpatient centers need to have certain standards for health and safety,” said Dean Welty, director of the Valley Family Forum, an advocacy group. “It has nothing to do with abortion – it has everything to do with women’s health.”
Opponents of the measure, though, argue that first-trimester abortions are safe procedures when performed properly, and that the tighter regulations could shutter as many as 17 of the state’s 21 abortion clinics.
Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, pointed out that regulations for hospitals include, for example, having hallways that are wide enough for two gurneys to pass each other.
According to NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, first-trimester abortion providers in Virginia already adhere to regulations from the Board of Health Professions and the Board of Medicine.
A Senate committee killed legislation to change how the clinics are regulated earlier this session.
Democrats hold a 22-18 advantage in the Senate, but two Democrats – Phillip Puckett, of Russell and Chuck Colgan, of Prince William – told the Washington Post that they plan to support the measure. The Senate on Wednesday delayed a final vote on the provision.
If Republicans hold the line, that would leave Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling left to cast the tiebreaking vote. He appears likely to support the amendment, given a comment from his spokeswoman Ibbie Hedrick.
“During his 10 years in the state Senate, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling consistently voted for similar legislation,” Hedrick said in a statement.
Gov. Bob McDonnell supports the amendment, spokesman Tucker Martin said.
“He encourages the Senate to approve this common-sense measure that will ensure all outpatient surgical centers are treated the same, in order to ensure the health and safety of our citizens,” Martin said.
