To the Editor:
With the General Assembly meeting in a special session, legislators almost certainly will vote to further restrict abortions in Indiana.
Why this matter constitutes an emergency requiring special action is unclear. The issue easily could have been left to the regular session. Could it be that our brave legislators want to demonstrate their willingness to engage in a culture war battle ahead of the fall election and score political points?
Whatever the reason, our state representatives and state senators are likely to go on record as voting in favor of protecting the unborn.
But what about the life of the mother? And what about the life of the newly born? Will these living people get the same respect afforded a fetus? If legislators truly believe in the sanctity of life, then they need to go beyond the politically expedient action of merely limiting abortion.
First, every uninsured pregnant woman who is forced to carry an unwanted child to birth needs to be covered by state medical coverage, including prenatal, obstetric and postnatal care. This medical care should come at no cost to the woman or her family.
Second, if the mother chooses to keep the baby, then that child should be guaranteed free medical care until age 18, the age of adulthood in Indiana. After all, if the state wants that child to live, then the state should be responsible for seeing that the child thrives.
Third, there should be adequate free child care so that the mother, if she chooses, can work to support the child. This care should cover both the preschool and elementary school years.
These proposals will not be inexpensive. They will require a potentially significant increase in state funding. But that financial burden should be placed not on the shoulders of the mother but on those of the state, which already will have said to the mother that she must carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.
There also will be a potential political cost to elected officials. Many of those who oppose abortion also oppose expanding social programs for needy Hoosiers. But to act in one area but not in the other is simply political theater. In fact, it is moral negligence.
Abortion should never be considered a form of birth control. However, there are times when it is necessary. Placing unreasonable restrictions on the procedure without due respect to the long-term consequences for the mother and potentially the child is unconscionable.
The legislature needs to think before it acts. Don’t play politics with women’s lives.
Rich Gotshall
Franklin
