CBS did a story yesterday about a new Ohio bill, nicknamed the “heartbeat bill,” that would ban abortions after the heartbeat becomes detectable. 
 
 Then today the ACLU joined in solidarity with Planned Parenthood against a bill in South Dakota that will put unreasonable burden on women seeking abortion. “Under the law, they would have to make two trips: one to visit with the doctor in person, and then another 72 hours later for the abortion. In the meantime, they must visit a crisis pregnancy center, which, under the law's requirements, must be anti-choice.” And if this wasn’t enough, there is only one abortion provider in the entire state.

Reading that article made me realize how much I have taken for granted living here in Maine. Just sitting at my desk I could easily think of a handful of clinics that are easily accessible within an hour or two.  It also reminded me of how vulnerable those clinics are. 

Right now in Maine our reproductive freedoms are under attack as well. There are currently six (yes, six) bills in the legislature that are aimed at limiting access to reproductive healthcare for Maine women.  These bills include scripted counseling, a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, parental consent for minors to receive birth control and yet another requiring parental consent for abortion. "No other state in the country requires parental consent for contraception, and every other state in the country provides confidential access to treatment for sexually transmitted diseases," Shenna Bellows, ACLU of MAINE Executive Director, says. "This is important because we all want our young people to have safe, confidential access to medical care."

Maine has a long history of protecting a woman’s right to choose, and we need to continue to fight to protect those rights. Go to this link to email your legislator today!