The controversial ultrasound law passed last year in the Virginia General Assembly is here to stay, after an attempt to get it repealed yesterday.
In a House of Delegates subcommittee, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, carried the bill to repeal the ultrasound procedure before a woman has an abortion, as well as making it optional. The bill also stripped the fine on a doctor if he or she did not do the procedure because it was medically unnecessary.
Earlier in the day, a similar bill was introduced to a Senate committee by Del. L. Kay Kory, D-Fairfax, asking for a full repeal of the measure. All the measures were defeated on a voice vote. This now makes it almost impossible to have a repeal of the ultrasound law in Virginia.
Representatives from several opposition groups were on hand, and their efforts apparently paid off. the Virginia Catholic Conference, the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists and the Family Foundation all had their say in the matter.
The Republican-dominated subcommittee also killed an attempt by Del. Robert L. Marshall, R-Prince William, to make sex-selective abortions illegal. Marshall told the panel, "Its sole function is to penalize the performance of an abortion for reasons of sex."
But a question of the constitutionality of the bill was raised by several lawmakers. According to Del. Gregory D. Habeeb, D-Salem, the bill is unworkable as well as being unconstitutional.
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