Wolf says he’ll veto GOP’s primary season ‘heartbeat’ abortion ban bill

Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he'll veto a House Republican's primary season attempt to chip away at abortion rights, calling it a "dangerous and unconscionable attack on women's healthcare." The legislation sponsored by Rep. Rick Saccone, of Allegheny County, would ban abortion at as early as six weeks, which is before most women even know they're pregnant.

Overnight Health Care: House Dems sound alarm over HHS pick | Trump…

Robert Francis O'Rourke Seven Texas lawmakers leaving Congress means a younger, more diverse delegation Periscope shines during House blackout Lawmakers form Term Limits Caucus MORE Lloyd Alton Doggett Pelosi denounces GOP tax reform as 'armageddon' Live coverage: Day three of the Ways and Means GOP tax bill markup Live coverage: Day two of the Ways and Means GOP tax bill markup MORE , the Democrats also said Alex Azar should be pressed on his commitment to uphold the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare. This won't be the first time in the hot seat for Azar, who faced the Senate Health Committee last month in what was billed as a courtesy hearing.

Planned Parenthood: Arkansas faces having 1 abortion clinic

A Planned Parenthood subsidiary told the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday that Arkansas' restrictions on how abortion pills are administered could effectively end medication abortions in the state and leave Arkansas with only one clinic where women can end their pregnancies. Under an Arkansas law passed in 2015, doctors who provide abortion pills must hold a contract with another physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital and who would agree to handle complications.

Justice Department Launches Investigation Into Planned Parenthood Over Sale of Fetal Tissue

In a letter first obtained by Fox News, Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Stephen Boyd formally requested unredacted documents from the Senate Judiciary Committee, the same panel that led the congressional probe into the women's health organization. "The Department of Justice appreciates the offer of assistance in obtaining these materials, and would like to request the Committee provide unredacted copies of records contained in the report, in order to further the Department's ability to conduct a thorough and comprehensive assessment of that report based on the full range of information available," Boyd wrote.

Abortion procedure ban struck down

A federal district judge handed a victory to abortion rights groups Wednesday when he struck down part of a Texas law curbing access to the most common second-trimester abortion procedure, called dilation and evacuation. In a decision that will be appealed before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Lee Yeakel said the provision imposes an "undue burden" on women seeking second-trimester abortions in the state.

US judge strikes down Texas measure to limit second-trimester abortions

A US district judge on Wednesday struck down parts of a Texas law that would ban the most common type of second-trimester abortions in the state, after plaintiffs argued the procedure was safe, legal and necessary for women's health. US District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin issued a permanent injunction against the provisions that were in legislation known as Senate Bill 8 and set to take effect this year, saying they "are facially unconstitutional."

Lawsuit targets Trump’s rollback of birth-control rule

Two national advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit in Indiana on Tuesday challenging a rule change by President Donald Trump's administration allowing more employers to opt out of no-cost birth control for workers. The suit was filed on behalf of five women at risk of being denied birth control coverage, including three University of Notre Dame students.

Federal judge strikes down two abortion restrictions in Alabama

A U.S. judge on Thursday struck down two abortion restrictions in Alabama that limited how close clinics can be to public schools and banned a procedure used to terminate pregnancies in the second trimester. The decision is a blow to abortion opponents in Alabama, who have joined conservatives in other states in enacting new laws that critics said were chipping away at the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v.

NH’s Congressional delegation calls for improvements to women’s facilities at VA

The top three officials who were removed from their jobs at the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center over the past three weeks continue to pocket a VA paycheck, and two have been reassigned to jobs in the system, the VA has acknowledged.

Rally will press Stefanik to oppose Cassidy-Graham bill

A rally is planned Friday in Plattsburgh to press Rep. Elise Stefanik to oppose the Cassidy-Graham health-care bill if it comes to the House for a vote. Participants will gather at 5 p.m. at Trinity Park in downtown Plattsburgh and march to Stefanik's office at 23 Durkee St. The action is expected to draw community members, health-care providers, elected officials and clergy, according to Joe Seeman, one of the organizers.

Kentuckya s last abortion clinic to face off against governor

Its survival on the line, Kentucky's last abortion clinic is bracing for a pivotal legal showdown with health regulators and the state's anti-abortion governor that could determine whether Kentucky becomes the first state in the nation without an abortion clinic. The licensing fight, set to play out in a Louisville federal courtroom starting Wednesday, revolves around a state law requiring that EMW Women's Surgical Center have agreements with a hospital and an ambulance service in the event of medical emergencies involving patients.

South Carolina’s Republican governor ends all abortion funding

The US state of South Carolina said Friday it is eliminating all state or federal aid to any medical practice linked to clinics practicing abortions. President Donald Trump had cleared the way for such changes in April, when -- in a move applauded by many conservatives -- he signed a bill revoking a rule from his predecessor, Barack Obama, that aimed to protect public funding for family-planning clinics.

In Georgia, a Democratic upset depends on a balancing act

Watch Atlanta television long enough and you're bound to see a young congressional candidate pledging to cut "wasteful spending" and make "both parties in Washington" be "accountable to you." Yet follow Jon Ossoff in Georgia's 6th Congressional District and you'll see the 30-year-old Democrat joining fellow millennials for happy hour, convening a group of women's health advocates and hosting specific minority groups across Atlanta's northern suburbs.

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem adored, reviled in divided Ohio

Gloria Steinem laughs during an interview Tuesday, May 16, 2017, before a dinner for the 100th anniversary of Planned Parenthood at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Gloria Steinem poses Tuesday, May 16, 2017, before a dinner for the 100th anniversary of Planned Parenthood at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.