Virginia State Senator Janet Howell tries to attach rectal exam amendment to anti-abortion bill

Virginia is close to passing a bill that would require women seeking abortions to get an ultrasound first. It’s an absolutely unnecessary procedure, relatively expensive, and absolutely a cynical ploy to force women to possibly rethink their decision. What they call “see, look, it’s alive” really is a “haha, now it’s too expensive, enjoy being forced to birth a child.”

The bill will probably pass easily in the Republican-controlled Virginia legislature. On its way to passage, though, at least some folks are trying to bring gender equity to the debate:

Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax County, was dismayed enough by the bill’s progress that she tried to amend it so men seeking prescriptions for erectile dysfunction medication such as Viagra would be required to undergo a rectal exam and cardiac stress test.

She said that’s “only fair, that if we’re going to subject women to unnecessary procedures, and we’re going to subject doctors to having to do things that they don’t think is medically advisory.”

Her proposed amendment failed Monday, leaving Vogel’s bill on the verge of Senate approval.

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3. Florida Governor Charlie Crist vetoes anti-abortion measure