In a guest editorial May 10 (“Another View: Separating fact from fiction on bill to ensure Maine women’s safety”), Rep. Deb Sanderson wrote: “It’s amazing the facts one can glean from actually reading the bill,” referring to L.D. 1312, “An Act to License Outpatient Surgical Abortion Facilities.”
Citing a Bangor Daily News summary of her description of L.D. 1312, she said the bill “excludes abortion clinics from ‘brick-and-mortar’ requirements about surgery room size and hallway widths,” echoing an interview that reported her saying she would specifically exclude abortion clinics from such requirements.
Having “actually” read the bill at least four times, I have failed to find any such exclusion.
The fiction is that the bill would specifically exclude “brick-and-mortar” requirements. The fact is that there is still the possibility that such requirements could become a reality.
It is ironic that the wording of the headline to Rep. Sanderson’s piece, “Separating fact from fiction …,” was a false claim.
The truth is that this bill is remarkably vague about what kinds of scrutiny and requirements would be put in place.
L.D. 1312 should not be passed.
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