Texas Republican: Rape victims shouldn’t receive abortion coverage because their claims aren’t “meas

[Novara]

Texas Republican: Rape victims shouldn’t receive abortion coverage because their claims aren’t “measurable”

Texas Republican State Sen. Donna Campbell fought an amendment on Wednesday that would allow exceptions for rape and incest victims from a measure that otherwise prohibits all insurance coverage for abortion. Instead, the GOP lawmaker countered the proposal with her own, which would require victims to report their assaults to police in order to receive exemptions, because otherwise the state might be “enabling” perpetrators.

“I’m concerned that we may be unintentionally providing cover for perpetrators of crimes,” Campbell said. She was then challenged by Democrat Kirk Watson, who pressed her to consider the real-life implications of the law and her amendment.

“Would you agree with me that there are instances where a woman could be raped, and because she fears for her life otherwise, would not want to report that to law enforcement officials?” Watson asked. “Can you conceive of that situation?”

Campbell agreed, but continued by identifying the measure as as strictly “an insurance bill.” “Instead of encouraging that hypothetical situation from moving into protection for her by law enforcement, we’re saying, let’s cover that violation with an insurance payment,” she said. “When she gets the abortion…are we empowering the perpetrator, because now out of a coercion…she gets an abortion, and it’s paid for by an insurance company — and then it may happen to her again?”

“I do agree that when it’s reported, when it’s something that’s measurable within the box — that when it’s reported to law enforcement authorities — then we have something measurable, that insurance companies like to have specific codes, that they then have something that they can then hang their hat on,” Campbell added.

So, essentially: Women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest should be forced to report their assaults to the police, regardless of perceived threats to their safety, in order to use the insurance for which they already pay to have an abortion — because insurance companies “like to have specific codes” for what they cover.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/texas_republican_rape_victims_shouldnt_receive_abortion_coverage_because_their_claims_arent_measurable/

[madaboutharry]

1. This woman is sick and cruel.

She is the exact type of person that makes the world such a difficult place to live.

[Novara]

3. No grasp of reality

There are a lot of reasons why some women won't report rapes - and intimidation is mostly at play here - and don't want to have their rapist's child. Personally, I can imagine few things more horrible than being raped and being forced to carry the pregnancy to term, when a legal procedure is available.

[DetlefK]

2. Rape has to be measureable, but anyone is free to claim "deeply-held religious beliefs" on a whim?

That seems a bit... inconsequential.

[brer cat]

4. Wading through her word salad

is almost as bad as trying to read Palin. Let's be sure to tell rape victims that they need to give the insurance companies a specific code they can hang their hats on.

[dballance]

5. I cannot understand how a person can be so callous. /nt

[Vogon_Glory]

6. FYI Donna Campbell's Predecessor Was Pro-choice

FYI Donna Campbell's predecessor Jeff Wentworth was pro-choice. Admittedly a conservative Republican, but pro-choice.

I don't think most Republican voters, particularly in Texas, don't get what their party has become. The Republican Party, particularly the Texas Republican Party, is an organization that moves in political lockstep with ideological conformity enforced by right-wing pressure groups in a way that we Democrats would not tolerate. Lurkers might scoff, but Wenttworth's departure shows just how vigorously Republican ideological conformity is enforced.

The non-voters as well as the inattentive voters of Campbell's district are as responsible for that woman being in the Texas State Senate as the Tea Party ideologues who sent Jeff Wentworth packing.