Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

Above, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the first openly bisexual governor in the U.S., insists that abortion should always be available. She has said restricting access to abortion is an “attack on all Oregonians, particularly women of color, low-income and young women.”

November 2017 – One of the few states with no restrictions on abortion, Oregon has made abortion even more accessible by increasing funds for abortions. On August 15, Gov. Kate Brown signed a law that directs $500,000 to be paid in the next two years from Oregon’s general fund for abortion and reproductive services for previously ineligible women.

The law specifically applies to illegal immigrants who are not covered by Medicaid. While the law allows for religious exemptions in coverage provided by churches and nonprofits, the law dictates that the state will make up the difference by paying for those services through taxpayer funds. The services will be covered at zero cost to the patient.

By state law, abortions are allowed for any reason including sex-selective and late-term abortions. Oregon does not require counseling, ultrasound, medically licensed physicians, or facilities’ surgical standards. There are no prohibitions on partial-birth abortion or abortion at any point in the pregnancy.

usnews.com, 8/15/17; catholicnewsagency.com, 7/7/17