Abortion legislation not necessary or advised

On the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Gov. Rick Perry announced that he is placing a bill that tightens abortion regulation on the expedited legislation list.

In plain English, Perry doesn’t like the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution, and he’s trying to do something about it. The problem is, the bill in question (that is also endorsed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Houston state Sen. Dan Patrick) is a cumbersome, costly piece of legislation that helps no one.

The bill makes all women receive a sonogram, listen to a doctor speak about the attributes of the fetus and listen to its heartbeat. The women would also have to be notified of choices other than abortion 24 hours before the procedure.

This isn’t the first time Perry has tried to pass the so-called sonogram bill. A less restrictive version was voted down in the Texas House in 2009. However, this time Republicans hold a majority in both sides of state Congress, which means the bill will have a much easier time passing through.

In a time where Texas is facing a multi-billion dollar deficit, a bill requiring more government intervention — and therefore, more tax dollars — this is not the best fiscal option. It’s not the most ethical option, either. The proposed measures this piece of legislation takes are extreme. Making pregnant women receive a sonogram is one thing, but requiring them to listen to the heartbeat and the physical state of the fetus is nothing more than a guilt trip.

Whether or not people agree with abortion, it is fact that the highest authority in the US, the Supreme Court, decided it was legal. For the state to come in and decree more red tape is completely contrary to the entire Conservative doctrine Texas lives by. Perry isn’t trying to stay neutral on this issue, either; on Saturday he called the Roe v. Wade decision a “tragedy” at a pro-life rally, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Unfortunately, this law seems destined to pass, regardless of its actual merit. Hopefully Perry and Congress will give the budget a more thorough read-over than this bill.