Minnesota Independent

Kline, Bachmann sponsor bill that could allow hospitals to refuse emergency abortions

By Andy Birkey | 02.07.11 | 1:38 pm

Reps. John Kline and Michele Bachmann are cosponsors of a bill that would allow faith-based hospitals and health care clinics to deny women emergency abortions, pro-choice advocates say. The Protect Life Act would prevent private health insurance policies offered in the health exchanges set up by last year’s health care reform from paying for abortion. It also OKs a “conscience clause” which allows religious people to deny care for women seeking an abortion.

Abortion bill that redefined rape to be changed by author

By Andy Birkey | 02.03.11 | 11:33 am

A bill that would ban taxpayer funding to clinics that perform abortions — and caused significant controversy over the definition of rape — has been changed by the bill’s author, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. The bill is sponsored by Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann, Chip Cravaack and John Kline, as well as DFL Rep. Collin Peterson, among many others. The bill sought to provide exception for incest and “forcible rape,” which opponents said would not cover statutory rape or instances where force could not be proven.

Franken anti-rape provision may be stripped… by a Democrat

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.22.09 | 11:41 am

Huffington Post’s Sam Stein is reporting that an amendment to the defense appropriations bill authored by Sen. Al Franken and approved in the Senate two weeks ago may be stripped from the final bill. Thirty…

Video: Rape victim speaks out against Palin

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.16.08 | 9:33 am

“I was raped, and then I got pregnant. Sarah Palin believes the government should be able to force me to carry the pregnancy to term… Gov. Palin, I didn’t have a choice about being raped, but I should…