Minnesota Democrats responded to a Republican lawmaker’s call for enacting abortion bans similar to the laws passed in Texas. In his legislative update, State Representative Tim Miller (R-Prinsberg) praised the new legislation in Texas that prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Miller went on to say that he will be introducing similar laws to Minnesota in his proposed bill. He wrote, “This new bill would require health care providers to notify patients if aborted fetal tissue was used in the development or production of a vaccine, treatment, or medical therapy. If the health care providers fail to do so, then the patient will be able to seek civil remedies in court against the entity that failed to provide proper disclosure.”
Miller was also the author of a bill, HF 643, which would also prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Miller introduced the bill in early 2021, with nine other legislators.
It reads:
Except in the case of a medical emergency, a physician must first test a pregnant woman to determine if a fetal heartbeat is detectable in the pregnant woman’s unborn child before performing an abortion. In testing for a detectable fetal heartbeat, the physician shall perform an abdominal ultrasound according to standard medical practice.
A physician shall not perform an abortion on a pregnant woman when it has been determined that the unborn child has a detectable fetal heartbeat, except in the case of a medical emergency.
A press release from the Minnesota Democrat Farmer Laborers (DFL) said, “Republican Representative Tim Miller’s draconian anti-abortion bill, which would ban abortion before many even know they are pregnant, cannot become law.”
The DFL used the proposed bill to encourage Democrats to stop Republicans from taking control of the state house and voting in a Republican governor.
The statement said, “Minnesota Republicans have made it clear that if they take the state house and one of their far-right, anti-abortion candidates for governor wins in 2022, they will move swiftly to enact a Texas-style abortion ban against the wishes of a large majority of Minnesotans. To stop that from happening, it is essential that DFLers win up and down the ballot in the upcoming midterm elections.”
The press release from the Minnesota DFL outlined specific stances taken on abortion by three of the six Republican candidates for governor: State Senator Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake), Dr. Scott Jensen, and State Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake).
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
