Virginia GOP Targets Abortion Clinics - and Women - Yet Again

The twin pillars of The Family Foundation - a Christofascist hate group that parades under the guise of a "family values" organization - are (i) insuring that gays are stigmatized and kept inferior under the laws of Virginia and (ii) ending all abortions in Virginia as well as restricting access to contraception.  Since The Family Foundation controls the Virginia GOP, its agenda and policies become those of the Republican Party of Virginia.  Anyone who claims differently is either a bald face liar or trying desperately to convince themselves that the Virginia GOP hasn't become a religious party.  A number of my former GOP colleagues are in this latter category as they stick their heads in the sand rather than face the reality of the Christofascist take over.  Given the reality of who controls the Virginia GOP, it is no surprise that once again abortion clinics have been subjected to costly regulations and requirements not applicable to comparable out patient surgery facilities.  The goal is simply to shut them all down.  A piece in Politico looks at the latest effort to end abortions and the availability of contraception in Virginia.  Leading the charge is sodomy law supporter, Ken "Kookinelli" Cuccinelli.  Here are highlights:

The Virginia Board of Health gave final approval to a sweeping set of regulations for abortion clinics Friday.   Abortion-rights supporters say the regulations — which would require many clinics in the state to undergo costly renovations to stay in business — have one goal: to put abortion clinics out of existence.

“This is a political attack on abortion, designed to outlaw women’s health centers in the state,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.

Under the new rules, which are the result of a law passed by the Virginia Legislature in 2011, a Virginia clinic that performs more than five abortions a month is categorized as a hospital. And that means Virginia’s 20 licensed abortion providers must now meet a host of new architectural requirements — which could mean anything from replacing the ceilings, to widening the hallways, to installing a drinking fountain.

Elizabeth Nash, state issues manager at the Guttmacher Institute, said about half the states have structural requirements in place for abortion clinics. But Virginia’s new rules, which are similar to those in Utah and Kansas, are “just about the most restrictive,” she said.  Rosemary Wilbur Codding, owner and director of the Falls Church Healthcare Center in Virginia, which provides abortions and gynecological care, said complying with all of the regulations could require her small facility to add five rooms and could cost up to $1 million.

“Realistically, in this climate, for any small business to be able to invest $1 million in unneeded upgrades is just outside of the spectrum of even thinking about,” she continued. “I’m not even sure how I’d manage $100,000.”  Codding said she’s not sure how she can afford to keep her medical center open — but she’s determined to fight the regulations.

Since the law was passed in 2011, finalizing the regulations has been a laborious, contentious process. Last year, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican who is anti-abortion, refused to certify the first round of regulations approved by the board, which would have “grandfathered in” existing clinics so they wouldn’t have to rebuild or renovate extensively.