The Virginia Board of Health fell in line Friday with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, reversing a previous decision to allow abortion providers in the state to operate without meeting new, stricter building codes.
The question was essentially framed as whether all abortion providers should be held to same building standards as larger, full-service hospitals. In June, the Board of Health voted that existing providers of the controversial operation would not have to adhere to new standards; they’d be “grandfathered” in. Included in the new regulations are larger hallways and operating rooms and more parking spaces.
Opponents decry the regulations as too costly and unnecessary, roundabout measures aimed at shutting down the abortion providers.
Cuccinelli, a pro-life Republican, quickly became a key player in the years-running matter after the vote in June. He refused to certify the Board of Health’s exemption, saying the board didn’t have the authority to trump the intent and legislation of the General Assembly.
Cuccinelli’s office said it was “simple”: the General Assembly passed a law making all abortion clinics “hospitals”; they are all “new” as hospitals; hospitals have building code requirements; and the June Board of Health decision is inconsistent with the law, which the board does not have the authority to do, the attorney general’s office noted.
State Sen. Mark Herring (D-33th), a candidate for attorney general in 2013, quickly bemoaned the involvement of Cuccinelli. Herring has repeatedly criticized the attorney general, claiming he’s focused more on advancing his political career and profile than acting out his duties as the state’s top lawyer.
“It is deeply disturbing that Virginia’s attorney general can act outside the scope of his legal authority, threaten and bully a board he is charged to represent and successfully intimidate them into reversing a policy decision that the attorney general personally disagrees with,” Herring said in a statement.
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31st) lent her stance on the decision to Twitter.
“This is a sad day. The BOH reversed itself – current clinics will now have to meet all TRAP regulations. This fight has just begun!!” she wrote.
TRAP, or Targeted Regulations Against Abortion Providers, is a label many pro-life advocates applied to the new set of codes.
“The right to life is a founding principal provided by our creator”
Except the death penalty I suppose?
I’m pretty sure innocent Iraqi’s were murdered when their country was invaded under false pretenses, proposed by the republicans. And you all certainly applauded that (mission accomplished), even when it was stupid to do so.
Missed the part about cheering for abortion; you can fabricate any story you wish or employ selective listening, but C-Span actually shows what was said at the convention in its entirety.
What was evident was emphasis on women’s wellness exams, cancer screenings, birth control, and access to legal abortion. Now that your AG has usurped power over the trained medical profession and coerced votes in order to advance his extreme radical conservative Republic approach, low income women may not have affordable health care or commonly used birth control which prevents pregnancy BTW. How ironic - women will die without appropriate healthcare but all you care about is a zygote.
Also, how hypocritical - RMoney and House Republics cheer when jobs’ reports are perceived as negative (even though they show modest growth). How is that pro-American? Or RMoney suggests that he wants to start new wars in Iran, Syria, Libya, and even Russia - how is warmongering pro-life? And at primaries, many radicals cheered for death penalty - how is that considered pro-life? Waiting for new bumper stickers that say Pro-Zygote.
“Rape All You Can” relates to the Akin-Ryan refusal to permit abortion even under dire circumstances such as rape or incest. Tell that to your daughter or wife or mother when you force a pregnancy. Their trauma will serve as a reminder.
I’m also curious - “It was like watching Roman glee at watching humans being rended apart by lions.” You date yourself; I’d love to see you try to blow out the candles on your birthday cake!
According to Commissioner Karen Remley’s report to the Board of Health at the June 2012 meeting, nine of 20 abortion centers applying for licensing had been inspected by the Department of Health. According to the Commissioner of Health, none had been “deficiency free.”
Some key findings:
•The nine centers inspected had received 80 citations
•18 citations for personnel issues, including no background checks, no ongoing plans for staff training, no maintenance of personnel files, no policy requiring staff to be CPR trained, no policies setting experience and training required to practice
•13 citations for infections prevention issues, including seven clinics with no clear division between clean and dirty utility areas, four centers where personnel weren’t using personal protective equipment and a host of record keeping issues
•10 citations regarding the administration, storage and dispensing of drugs including four with expired drugs in stock, and others with improper labeling of drugs, no medication dispensing policy
•10 maintenance of equipment citations including equipment not in good repair, no preventative maintenance plan
•Six citations for local and state building code violations
When I watched the DNC convention and heard those Democrats roaring with applause for abortion, it really hit me just how vile Democrats are. Cheering for the murder of millions of innocent children. It was like watching Roman glee at watching humans being rended apart by lions.
The evil that is in wo/man’s heart is astounding.
And there the Democrats stand, applauding irresponsibility and murder upon innocents.
“Rape All You Can party”? “Rethuglicans”?
These characterizations come from people, including St. Sens. Herring and Favola, who are extreme liberals that shamefully politicize innocent human life. The “war on woman” meme is a bogus charge and contrary to those who believe that the right to life extends to both male and female unborn babies. How many unborn females have been killed through selective abortion? Who are the real war mongers against women? They are extreme liberal Democrats. The right to life is a founding principal provided by our creator. Extreme liberal democrats like Herring and Favola want publicly financed “abortion-on-demand” using taxpayer money. If abortions are to be conducted, they should not be funded by our taxpayer dollars.
All other legislation that the AG has tried hasn’t worked, so he has to go after legitimate womens’ clinics to change the playing field, to seem less ineffectual. Cuckoo for rape or incest victims? More than Sad. Puts a new meaning to “Rape All You Can” party. Women will remember in November!
Its a sad time for women with the Rethuglicans in charge.
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