Last week, two bills, SB 1206 and SB 1138, received approval from the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee that would require a 24-hour waiting period for abortions and increase penalties for performing late-term abortions. Unlike the previous nine anti-abortion bills that came from our state lawmakers that Guv Napolitano vetoed, chances are these will pass with complete approval from Guv Brewer.

When the bills went through the House first, we were lucky Rep. Matt Heinz brought up a few important points. He wondered, since the Legislature has destroyed social-service funding, how parts of the bills could require that women interested in abortion be told about public medical assistance benefits available for prenatal care, childbirth and postnatal care in case she decides not to have an abortion. Or that public and private agencies can assist the woman before and after the birth, whether she chooses to keep the child or put it up for adoption.

Thanks, Doc.