Female Democrats in the Georgia House

of Representatives protest abortion bill.

(RhReality)

Acting on contentious legislation passed by the Republican-dominated state House and Senate, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed a bill Tuesday that forbids abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy except when the woman's life is at risk. No exceptions are allowed for rape or incest. The bill, HB 954, effectively cuts six weeks off allowable time when abortions are now permitted in the state.

It wasn't the total victory the law's drafters had hoped for, however. In spite of vigorous opposition from forced-birther lobbyists, abortions will be permitted in cases where there are "irremediable" fetal congenital or fetal abnormalities "incompatible with sustaining life after birth." So hurrah for a small victory in two years' of the worst series of defeats for the women's reproductive rights since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide 39 years ago.



“Women should not be forced to adhere to legislative directives that are based on unsound medical science," said Leola Reis, a spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based Planned Parenthood Southeast.

Science? Puhleez.

Like similar bills in Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, the Georgia bill was passed on claims fetuses feel pain after 20 weeks. Neuroscientists say this is not the case. But that makes no never-mind to the ideologues eager to keep nibbling away at safe and legal abortions until they vanish.

None of the fetal-pain laws has yet been challenged in court.

The Guttmacher Institute, which, among other things, analyzes policy relating to reproductive and sexual health, reports that in 2012 so far, 944 bills have been introduced in 44 state legislatures relating to reproductive health and rights.

Included in these is legislation in 14 states that restrict abortion later in pregnancy but prior to fetal viability. Nine states, in addition to Georgia, would put the new limit at 20 weeks postfertilization, equivalent to 22 weeks gestation. Last month Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill that would ban abortions 18 weeks after fertilzation. making it the nation's most restrictive law in that regard.