Progress: Mississippi’s Only Abortion Clinic Will Stay Open, For Now

Federal judge block part of a state law that would have force clinic’s closing

Until Monday, when a federal judge blocked a state law that tied the hands of abortion doctors, Mississippi would have become the first state in the nation without a clinic open to women choosing to legally terminate their pregnancies. Judge Daniel P. Jordan III’s ruling is not yet final, but it will keep the law from going into effect while a decision on its constitutionality is made. The law, passed in the spring of 2012, requires doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, a requirement that purposefully disqualified many doctors from performing the service without risking fine and or jail time. The southern state’s lone clinic is the Jackson Women’s Health Organization. “Closing its doors would – as the state seems to concede in this argument – force Mississippi women to leave Mississippi to obtain a legal abortion,” Judge Jordan wrote in his ruling on Monday. He added that the case “would result in a patchwork system where constitutional rights are available in some states but not others.” (New York Times)

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Protesters March on 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Under new leadership, March for Life continues anti-abortion protests.

The crowd of anti-abortion rights protesters let out a rapturous cheer as news of support from Pope Benedict XVI was announced. Attendees waved signs and watched speakers on jumbotrons during this year’s March for Life. The annual march marked the 40^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade this week, though it was pushed back to avoid conflict with the inauguration.

As the new president of the march, Jeane Monaham is expecting record-breaking attendance. Under her leadership, she said the March for Life Education & Defense Fund would expand its educational component to attract attention throughout the year—not just the day of the march. “My hope as the March for Life president is really just to give a voice, more and more, to the young people,” she said.

House Speaker John Boehner also sent words of support, saying he hopes to make abortion a “relic of the past.” He promised that Congress would continue work to pass the Hyde Amendment that prevents taxpayer funding from going to abortion. (Politico)

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Justin Bieber’s Mom Produces Anti-Abortion Film

People behind the movie want to rake in $10 million for pregnancy centers.

Justin Bieber’s mom, Pattie Mallette, is the executive producer of a controversial new anti-abortion film. People behind the movie “Crescendo” reportedly want to bring in $10 million for pregnancy centers. Mallette, who had Bieber at 18-years-old, will reportedly appear at some screenings worldwide beginning on February 28.

In her book, “Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber’s Mom,” Mallette discusses being a survivor of sexual abuse and why she decided to keep her child at a young age. Justin Bieber’s on and off again girlfriend, Selena Gomez, was also born and raised by a teenage mom. In a statement obtained by The AP, Mallette said she wants her work with “Crescendo” to help young women around the realize that you always have someone to take care of you if you are pregnant. (National Monitor)

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Michigan Governor OKs Law On Abortion Rules

Opponents fear bill could result in closure of some clinics

Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan has signed into law a bill regarding abortion providers, that opponents fear will lead to the closure of clinics in low-income and rural areas. The new law requires facilities that conduct at least 120 abortions annually to get a license as a free-standing outpatient surgical facility. The regulation could mean higher costs for clinics, which might require renovations to pass new inspections. Such costs could force some clinics, especially those located in rural and low-income areas, to shut their doors. The new law also requires women to be counseled in order to make sure they're not being forced to have an abortion. Supporters say the measure provides additional protections for protects women. (NY Times)

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Michigan Pushes Controversial 'Extreme' Abortion Law

HB 5711 imposes a host of new restrictions.

After much protest Michigan State Senate passed HB 5711, a new abortion bill that introduces some very staunch restrictions making it even more difficult for women to get abortions in the state.

The bill require doctors to prove that their patients haven’t been "tricked" into having the procedure. It also limits abortion access for women in rural areas and imposes guidelines for disposing of fetal remains in the same way that the state disposes of dead bodies. The legislation also seeks to mandate complicated regulations that could force the state’s abortion clinics out of business, says Think Progess.

HB 5711 is now headed back to the House to be considered for final passage.

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Abortions Rate Drops by Largest Percentage in a Decade

Researchers believe the drop was due to a poor economy

Abortions in the U.S. fell 5 percent during the recession, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That number represents the biggest one-year decrease in at least a decade.

The CDC's results were from a 2009 study, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

[ALSO READ:Study Says Denying Women Abortion Access Increases Their Risk Of Falling Into Poverty]

Researchers at the CDC suggest that the decline is due to women being more careful to use birth control because of the economy. Both the number of abortions and the abortion rate dropped by the same percentage.

While many states have aggressively restricted access to abortion, most of those laws were adopted in the past two years and are not believed to have played a role in the decline.

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