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Deception Decoder

Extremist politicians know their agenda is deeply unpopular: cutting Americans off from health care, turning back the clock on women’s rights, and forcing new burdens on women seeking abortion. 

So they’re hiding attacks on reproductive health and rights behind neutral or even “pro-woman-sounding” bill titles. It’s outrageous, deceptive, and insulting. We’re not fooled. So, we’re shining a light on this dangerously sneaky legislation. 

Women's Enhanced Reflection Act (Louisiana)

What we call it: 

Go To Your Room and Don't Come Out Until You've Really Thought About It Act

Outrage Scale:

More on this bill: Forces a woman to wait 72 hours between a doctor's consultation and having an abortion. Besides the obviously unnecessary two visits this mandates, for many women, this could mean taking additional time off work, losing pay, having to disclose their abortion to bosses and co-workers, and spending hundreds of dollars on travel. A recent study of a similar law in Utah found that, in reality, these barriers meant women had to wait eight days on average. It's insulting and just another way to put up barriers between women and safe, legal abortion.

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Women and Children's Protection Act (North Carolina)

What we call it: 

Governor Pat “McCreepy” McCrory Gets a Picture of My Uterus Act

Outrage Scale:

More on this bill: Requires a woman whose abortion takes place after 16 weeks of pregnancy to have an ultrasound – and for the ultrasound image to be filed with the state. So, the "Women and Children's Protection Act" isn’t so much about protecting women and children. Not even close. It just forces a woman to have a medically unnecessary, sometimes-invasive procedure designed to discourage doctors from providing abortions and shame the women who have them. Oh, and then the governor gets to keep the picture. Great.

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Humanity of the Unborn Child Act
(Oklahoma)

What we call it: 

Shame High Schoolers Who Might Have Abortions Act

Outrage Scale:

More on this bill: Requires the State Department of Education to create anti-abortion "educational materials" that "clearly and consistently teach that abortion kills a living human being," and for educators to use those materials in the classroom.

But does it also tell them that abortion is their constitutionally protected right? Nope.

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If extreme politicians get their way, 2.5 million patients per year will lose access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers. But we will fight like hell to stop these attacks 

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All Lives Matter Act (Missouri)

What we call it:

Black People Are Dying But You Want To Hijack Their Movement To Restrict Abortion Act

Outrage Scale:

😒 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill: Requires the state to treat "unborn children" as people, which would outlaw abortion and violate Roe v. Wade. "All Lives Matter" is a phrase meant to co-opt and undermine the Black Lives Matter movement – and is being used here to gin up support for the bill in a state with a strong backlash against Black Lives Matter activists.

Source

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Stand with PP

If extreme politicians get their way, 2.5 million patients per year will lose access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers. But we will fight like hell to stop these attacks.

Sign the Petition
Ultrasound Opportunity Act (Illinois)

What we call it: 

Force Women To Sign A Document Solely Meant To Shame Them Act

Outrage Scale:

😒 😒

More on this bill: Requires a doctor to offer an ultrasound to a woman before she has an abortion, and requires the woman to sign a document saying she accepted or rejected the offer. So, it’s an “opportunity” in the sense that you have to do it even if you don’t want to and your provider doesn’t think it’s necessary.

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Fetal Heartbeat Act (Alabama)

What we call it: 
Abortion Ban Before You Know You're Pregnant Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Prohibits a doctor from performing an abortion without first checking for a fetal heartbeat. If one exists, the doctor cannot perform the abortion.

Fetal heartbeats can be detected as early as six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant. A six-week ban would be the most restrictive in the country and directly contradicts Roe v. Wade. And just because embryos have cardiac activity does not mean they can live outside the womb (aka "viability"). Oh, and similar measures that have passed in other states have been struck down as unconstitutional. Guess who’s paying the legal fees? Taxpayers like you.

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Protecting Unborn Children Amendments (Utah)

What we call it: 
We Prefer Women Silent (And Unconscious) Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Requires a woman having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or after to be given anesthesia, whether her doctor thinks she needs it or not. General anesthesia can carry medical risks – doctors generally oppose unnecessary medical interventions. Proponents say it's to stop fetuses from feeling pain, even though claims that fetuses can feel pain as early as 20 weeks are inconsistent with the best available scientific evidence. But risk a woman's health to make a political point? Sure, okay...

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Health Care Rights of Conscience Act (Alabama)

What we call it: 
My Conscience Says It's Okay To Let You Suffer Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Allows health care providers to refuse to participate in a service if it violates their conscience.

The language of the bill is so broad it could include people refusing to run a blood test for a patient about to undergo a C-section to remove a stillborn fetus, or refuse to fill an emergency contraception prescription written by a doctor.

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Whole Women’s Healthcare Funding Act (Louisiana)

What we call it: 
Sounds Like We're Funding Women's Health Care But JK We're Actually Making it Less Accessible Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Prohibits the Department of Health and Hospitals from contracting with or granting any money to an organization that performs abortions, like Planned Parenthood.

So, if the state has money to increase breast exams and there's a bunch of health centers in underserved communities who can best provide them, but those health centers also provide abortion, they can't get any funding from the state to help detect breast cancer early. Or test for STDs. Or counsel women on birth control…

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Choose Life License Plates Act (Nebraska)

What we call it: 
License To Lie Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Uses the Department of Motor Vehicles as a revenue stream for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) — aka centers that often mask themselves as abortion providers but in fact do not provide abortion and instead lie to women to stop them from having abortions. People can purchase "Choose Life" license plates, and fees from those plates go into a dedicated fund to support CPCs and other anti-abortion organizations.

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Defunding the Abortion Industry and Advancing Women's Health Act (South Carolina)

What we call it: 
"Voldemort" Don’t Talk about Abortion or We’ll Shut You Down Act. Oh, Right. Also Something Something Women’s Health Act.

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒

More on this bill:

This bill would put an effective gag order on anyone who receives state funds – public universities and hospitals, state agencies, and nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and rape crisis centers – from talking to people about abortion. Any violation would result in stripped funding.

Oh, and for good measure the bill basically prohibits state medical schools from teaching safe abortion procedures AND could decimate the state’s Title X family planning program to boot. We’re still looking for that “advancing women’s health” part.

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An act relating to signs required to be displayed at certain facilities that perform abortions (Texas)

What we call it: 
Don't Mind Us We're Just Papering Your Clinic With Shame-y Anti-Abortion Propaganda Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Requires abortion providers to "conspicuously" post signs in every waiting room and patient consult room that say, among other things, the state can help you identify who the father of your "child" is and help you carry your "child" to term. In total, the signs must have 275 words detailing ways you can avoid having an abortion.

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Women’s Reproductive Information Guarantee for Health and Transparency (RIGHT) Act (Colorado)

What we call it: 
Force Doctors to Use Junk Science with Their Patients Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Requires a woman having an abortion to receive an ultrasound, and tries to make doctors mouthpieces for junk science about the "physical and psychological risks" of abortion.

On top of shaming women, this bill discourages doctors from performing abortions by imposing a penalty of up to $1,000 for each missing step in this "informed consent" process. Oh, and it includes a 24-hour waiting period. Some "right"!

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An Act Concerning Abortions and Certain Incarcerated Women (New Jersey)

What we call it:
Force Women in Prison to Pay for Abortion Act

Outrage Scale: 😒 😒 😒 😒

More on this bill:

Allows counties in New Jersey to require women in prison to cover the full costs of abortion, even though almost all other health care is paid for by the state.

Plain and simple: If you're pregnant and incarcerated – even if you are pregnant because you were assaulted while in custody – you have to be able to pay for an abortion outright to get one. Or be forced to carry your pregnancy to term.

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