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Bill requiring equal treatment for abortion survivors on its way to Wyoming Governor

Mar 18, 2020

By Dave Andrusko

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon
Photo: Mike Groover

Senate File 97, which requires equal treatment for abortion survivors, has now passed both houses and is on its way to the desk of Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon.

 Senate File 97 requires physicians to “take medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of an infant born alive” if the baby survives the attempted abortion. The proposal won easily in  the Senate and eventually in the House last week.

According to Tom Coulter of  the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “The House overwhelmingly supported the bill by a 44-16 vote, but lawmakers first debated several amendments,” all of which failed,  including one to reduce the penalty for abortionists who fail to take these steps. 

In opposing reducing the penalty, state Rep. Scott Clem said, “If you have a baby that is born alive that is viable, that should be charged with a felony, because you actually tried to abort a viable baby.” He added, “We’re talking about a botched abortion, a baby that is born alive, and we’re not going to give it any treatment, and the worst that doctor is going to get is (a) $1,000 (fine).” 

Wyoming State Rep. Jared Olsen

Coulter wrote, “There is momentum building nationwide for such requirements. Other states like Arkansas, Alabama and North Carolina have proposed similar bills during their legislative sessions this year. At the federal level, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., has proposed legislation imposing similar requirements. …” 

“Life is either precious or it’s not,” Rep. Jared Olsen argued in debate last week. “And to me, all life is inherently, God-givenly, precious.”

Categories: Legislation
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