During this morning’s Attorney General debate with Democratic candidate Mark Herring, Tea Party Republican Mark Obenshain attempted to sidestep his extreme record on women’s reproductive rights because he knows that Virginians simply will not vote in support of “personhood” bills that would ban common forms of birth control.
The public record shows that:
Mark Obenshain, In 2012, Voted In Support Of A “Personhood” Bill That Would Give “Fertilized Eggs The Same Legal Rights As People.” Mark Obenshain, on February 23, 2012, was one of 14 state senators who voted against killing by sending back to committee House Bill 1, which was a bill to give “fertilized eggs the same legal rights as people.” This “so-called ‘personhood’” bill stipulated “that life begins at conception and confers all the rights and privileges of a person to a fertilized egg.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 02/23/12, and HB 1, 2012)
The “Personhood” Bill In 2012, Would “Give A Fertilized Egg Full Rights Of Virginia Citizenship, And Jeopardize Some Forms Of Birth Control…” The Daily Press’ Tamara Dietrich opined, “Now that our House of Delegates is even more firmly in the grasp of the GOP, and the Senate is evenly split – with a Republican lieutenant governor to break ties – ideologues like Marshall have been shoving their hardline agenda right down the GA pipeline. Marshall introduced a ‘personhood’ bill to give a fertilized egg full rights of Virginia citizenship, and jeopardize some forms of birth control, in vitro fertilization and abortion rights. Thankfully, that bill was tabled till next year.” (Daily Press, Column, 02/26/12)
Mark Obenshain, In 2011, Sponsored A Bill To Give Constitutional Rights To The Unborn From The Moment Of Conception. Mark Obenshain, in 2011, sponsored Senate Bill 1207, which was a bill to “extend constitutionally guaranteed rights to the unborn from the moment of conception.” (SB 1207, 2011 and Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, 01/21/11)
“Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, made himself a lightning rod for criticism by introducing a bill that would require a woman to report her miscarriage to police within 24 hours.” [SB 962, 2009; Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 1/28/09]
Mark Obenshain, In 2007, Co-Sponsored A “Personhood” Amendment. Mark Obenshain, in 2007, was a co-sponsor of House Bill 2797, which was a “personhood” bill. (HB 2797, 2007)
Washington Post Editorial: “The Practical Effects Of ‘Personhood’ Measures,” Would “Easily Include Banning The Most Popular Forms Of Contraception,” Including The Pill. “The practical effects of ‘personhood’ measures, including the one in Virginia to which Mr. Cuccinelli affixed his name, would easily include banning the most popular forms of contraception. This is because the pill, as well as other forms of birth control, work partly by preventing the implantation of eggs in the uterus wall after they have been fertilized. If the ‘preborn’ are protected ‘from the moment of fertilization,’ as the 2007 bill demanded, then contraception — which defeats a fertilized egg’s chances of becoming a living being — could be prohibited. In fact, the legislation seems to demand it.” (Washington Post, Editorial, 09/04/13)
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Said “Personhood” Bills Could Outlaw Some Forms of Birth Control And Contraception. “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says such legislation could outlaw birth control pills and other forms of contraception that prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in a uterus.” (PolitiFact Virginia/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 09/13/13)
According To PolitiFact Virginia, Virginia’s “Personhood” Bills “Would Have Opened Or Protected Legal Avenues To Challenge The Use Of Certain Contraceptives.” Mark Obenshain “supported personhood bills that recognized life as beginning at the moment of conception or fertilization and bestowed human embryos with legal rights. The Bills “would have opened or protected legal avenues to challenge the use of certain contraceptives.” (HB 1, 2012; HB 2797, 2007; SB 1207, 2011; and PolitiFact Virginia/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 09/13/13)
Mark Obenshain, On The JMU Board Of Visitors In 2003, Voted To Ban The Distribution Of The “Morning-After” Pill On Campus, And “Said That The Discharge Of A Fertilized Egg Constitutes A Type Of Abortion.” In April 2003, “the JMU Board of Visitors halted the sale of the pill that contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone that is officially a contraceptive, but which also can perform a type of early abortion, critics say. … At the meeting, board member Mark D. Obenshain moved that JMU stop selling levonorgestrel, according to school spokesman Fred Hilton. Hilton said a clear majority of the board approved the motion but an exact vote count was not taken. Obenshain said that causing the discharge of a fertilized egg constitutes a type of abortion.” (Associated Press, 04/23/03)
Mark Obenshain Opposes The Use Of Contraceptives “Known As Morning-After Pills.” He Said He Hopes They “‘Are Banned On College Campuses.’” State Delegate Bob Marshall, in 2004, introduced a bill to “ban the distribution of Emergency Contraceptive Pills [ECPs] on state colleges and university campuses.” Mark Obenshain said “he wants a chance to support” this bill. “‘I hope ECPs are banned on college campuses,’ he said. ‘I don’t think colleges have any business in that business. It’s overreaching. It’s well beyond what government should or should not be involved in. Universities are subsidizing the distribution of these drugs and they are promoting irresponsible behavior.’” (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record, 02/18/04)