Don't Let IDAHO Violate Women

A message from CREDOAction: Just weeks after a similar bill in Virginia was altered in the face of a national outcry, the Idaho legislature is poised to vote on a bill that would require women in Idaho to undergo an invasive procedure known as a transvaginal ultrasound as a part of "informed consent" before having an abortion.¹

Fierce opposition is what helped amend the bill in Virginia to remove the transvaginal ultrasound requirement by convincing Governor McDonnell to threaten to veto the bill. And fierce opposition is what is needed to convince Governor Otter to veto this legislation.

Under the Idaho criminal code, this procedure could be classified as a sexual offense. Forcible penetration with a foreign object is illegal in the state — and there is no medically required purpose for the transvaginal ultrasound. This is especially horrible because this procedure required under the bill will be implemented without the woman's consent.

Tell Governor Otter to threaten to veto legislation requiring an invasive transvaginal ultrasound before having an abortion. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Although proponents of the bill claim that it would not require a transvaginal ultrasound, the pro-woman community agrees that the bill would still require women seeking an abortion to undergo this medically unnecessary procedure.²

This anti-woman bill has already passed the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee, and a vote could happen in the full legislature within weeks — so we only have a short window of time to ensure this bill fails by getting Governor Otter to issue a veto threat.

This bill is nothing more than another attempt by anti-woman extremists in state legislatures to attempt to make it harder for women to access abortion services. And although this is a state-level bill, if it passes, there could be far-reaching national implications.

If this bill successfully passes the Idaho legislature and Governor Otter signs it into law, other states will be encouraged to begin to introduce equally radical bills. We can't let this legislation pass and set off a chain reaction around the U.S.

We need to make sure that Governor Otter hears from as many voters as possible that they want him to issue a veto threat for this horrible legislation to ensure that Idaho doesn't violate women.

Tell Governor Otter to threaten to veto legislation requiring an invasive transvaginal ultrasound before having an abortion.

Click below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5541926&id=36826-2593817-1bdbrvx&t=9

Thank you for standing up for women's access to health care.

Ali Rozell, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. "Idaho legislative panel approves abortion ultrasound bill," Idaho Press Tribune, 03-15-12.
2. "Idaho Backs Down On Transvaginal Ultrasounds, Sort Of," Care2, 02-28-12.