Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Reproductive Rights Bill Package Introduced
Posted Feb. 10, 2023
Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and state legislators announced a comprehensive reproductive rights legislative package, taking the first steps towards enshrining reproductive rights in the Maryland constitution. The bill package will provide concrete protections for Marylanders’ reproductive freedoms, protect private medical information, and expand access to reproductive healthcare services.
Following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the Supreme Court no longer recognizes individual reproductive health decisions, which leaves Maryland’s statutory right to abortion vulnerable.
“As long as I am Governor, our home will be a safe haven for abortion access,” said Governor Moore. “While some states have decided to move toward restricting reproductive rights, I can assure you, we will protect them.”
The legislative package includes four core bills:
The Right to Reproductive Freedom (HB705/SB798): enables a ballot measure to constitutionally enshrine the rights of Marylanders to reproductive freedom.
Reproductive Health Protections (HB808/SB859): protects patients, providers, and people supporting out-of-state patients seeking reproductive health care in Maryland from criminal, civil, and administrative actions from restrictive states.
Reproductive Healthcare at Higher Education Institutions (HB477/SB341): requires Maryland’s public higher education institutions to develop reproductive health access plans to provide or refer for the full range of reproductive health and wrap-around support services. The legislation also requires campuses to provide 24-hour access to contraceptives.
Privacy Protections for Reproductive Health Records (HB812/SB786): provides additional privacy protections for medical records to reduce the risk of criminal prosecution or civil litigation for out-of-state patients seeking reproductive care in Maryland.
According to the Office of the Governor, the laws “will prevent states that have banned or restricted abortion from intimidating those seeking abortion care and protect volunteers and health care providers. The legislation also further expands access to reproductive care by removing barriers for many students—those without transportation, family support, or facing the trauma of sexual assault.”
What do you think about this Reproductive Rights bill package and the protections it’s intended to provide Marylanders and those seeking care in our state?
Here’s what you said:
Entirely in favor of this move to protect women's rights in Maryland. It makes this State a pioneer for realizing American values.
Philip Allen, Annapolis
“As long as I am Governor, our home will be a safe haven for abortion access,” said Governor Moore
I know this is a hot topic with good arguments for both sides so I will only share my truth- Fact - If this had been the law when I was conceived, I would not be here today. If I had been conceived today, with this type of law, where is my safe haven? Where would my right to choose to live be protected?
Dennie Mercer, Maryland
Reproductive rights are important. Government should not be the ones making decisions for women. People who have religious beliefs that women should not have this available should realize that not all people have the same religion or feelings. If you truly belief as a matter of faith that they should not be abortions then you should work on helping support people and families to have children. Help create better programs to financially support women and families. Create better work leave etc etc...religious faith is a very personal choice. We are a country of religious freedom. Also my personal body and health care decisions are private we have hippa laws for that. A decision like this is not an easy one for a woman and is deeply personal and affects he her entire life if she has to make that decision. Fortunately I have never had to...but speak for women out there. Additionally, we need to stop the spread of anger and hate and all be kinder. People are tired of political bickering and hate mongering talking points for the sake of just being plain disagreeable...why... it is not good for us or our country.
Anonymous
Heartbreaking. We should "love them both," and help these mothers AND their babies, not make them believe there's no other choice but abortion. There are so many resources available- before, during, and after pregnancy - to anyone who needs them.
My message to these women: You are not alone. You are loved. There is help available. ❤️
N. F.
As a woman committed to human rights, I find this package of legislation to expand and "enshrine" abortion on demand for any reason deeply disturbing.
I'm weary and wary of politicians trying to advance further a "right" to end children's lives before they are born. This is not legislation to make abortion legal in Maryland (Maryland law clearly legalizes abortion already), rather it is legislation to push abortion further in our state without any apparent concern for the moral impact.
People have honestly debated and struggled over abortion in the early weeks of pregnancy, but this legislation ignores whether the child can survive outside the womb.
If Maryland wants to be a "safe haven" let it be protecting the most vulnerable, perhaps expanding safe drop off zones for new infants without prosecution for their parents, not offering unlimited abortion regardless of gestational age.
Cedulie Laumann, Crownsville
We aborted almost 30,000 babies in Maryland last year. This is shameful. This is sad. I am totally opposed to Democrat initiatives to celebrate and expand the taking of human life.
Daryl Hodge, Arnold
Both the "comprehensive reproductive rights legislative package" as well as the "privacy protection of medical records" are undefined. Abortion up to delivery? That is what is enshrined?Is this what Marylanders want? What other area of the law gives absolute immunity to possible malpractice? Who's being protected here? Not the women, but the providers. Not the small human in the womb either.
Kathleen Basil, Arnold
I consider myself a Republican but am so thankful that the State is taking steps to protect abortion rights for women living in Maryland, those that have to travel here because their states are not protecting their rights, and the providers performing services. I'm proud of Maryland's stance on this issue.
Rita Siprak-Weill, Annapolis
I've always considered rights to be accompanied by responsibilities. So the right & responsibility of reproduction go hand in hand. If you have not been responsible in preventing reproduction, then take responsibility for the life now in your hands. If you can’t or won’t love & care for the unborn human being within, then please place him/her in the arms of others who will. Please don’t bring up rape, etc (a very small percentage of pregnancies). I was taught that 2 wrongs don’t make a right, & that every life has value. By the way, none of us chose the means of our own conception, yet whether ideal or not, we certainly value our own life. There is not, & never should be, a constitutional right to kill/destroy/murder another life, especially one that cannot defend themself. We, as a nation, have moved so far away from strong morality, human kindness & common sense. It’s hard to imagine becoming even worse. The legislation that gave approval to murdering unborn children certainly hastened our moral decline, with disastrous effects all around us. Please, come to your senses. There are better ways to handle what seems like a bad situation in the moment other than an action that permanently destroys a precious life.
Nancy Singleton, Annapolis
It was very good to see Governor Moore at the Polar Bear Plunge supporting the Special Olympics and having his photo taken with many of the special needs athletes. So it is interesting that he has become the number one advocate of the proposed laws to make Maryland an even greater bastion of abortion, where there are already no limits on abortion, as well as an abortion destination. Under current Maryland law a women can ask for an abortion for any reason with many doing so because of an in-vitro diagnosis of a potential disability. The governor should be concentrating on working to provided greater support for moms whose choose life and not on doing all he can to say it is okay for moms to choose to abort their child for any reason. This is especially true when science has proven that from conception a distinct human being exists even in the womb. “Follow the science.”
Bill Cummins, Annapolis
In the state of Maryland you can abort through all nine months for any reason. Putting this into the State Constitution would effectively end any further means of restriction including dismemberment bans and would make Maryland the capitol of abortion in the US, as abortion minded women come across lines to end the life of a child in the womb here. This is absolutely abhorrent to me and if this legislation passes, I will be moving from the bloody state of Maryland.
Julie Bass, Severna Park
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