CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS AND THE POSSIBLE FUTURE OF RIGHT-WING NULLIFICATION
The New York Times looks at crisis pregnancy centers, which steer women away from abortion, often with the encouragement of the government. Not much news here, but the story is a reminder of how easy it's been for Republican states to effectively nullify Roe v. Wade within their borders:
With free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, along with diapers, parenting classes and even temporary housing, pregnancy centers are playing an increasingly influential role in the anti-abortion movement. While most attention has focused on scores of new state laws restricting abortion, the centers have been growing in numbers and gaining state financing and support....It makes me wonder what will happen if, someday, the Supreme Court decides that there's a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Will couples seeking marriage licenses (straight and gay, or maybe just gay) be required to undergo counseling that warns of the evils of homosexuality and the describes heterosexual marriage as the bedrock of civilization? Will some state actually try to compel gay couples seeking marriage licenses to at least undergo one session of gay-conversion therapy? And will conservative federal judges conclude that these are "reasonable" hoops to jump through in order to get married?
Pregnancy centers, while not new, now number about 2,500, compared with about 1,800 abortion providers....
Thirteen states now provide some direct financing; 27 offer "Choose Life" license plates, the proceeds from which aid centers. In 2011, Texas increased financing for the centers while cutting family planning money by two-thirds, and required abortion clinics to provide names of centers at least 24 hours before performing abortions. In South Dakota, a 2011 law being challenged by Planned Parenthood requires pregnancy center visits before abortions....
