MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House Speaker ruled the Judiciary committee’s amendment to HB 622, which would have repealed the mandatory ultrasound requirement in Gov. Sununu’s abortion ban, non-germane just minutes before the vote. In response, Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Marjorie Smith (D-Durham) released the following statement:
“In an unprecedented stunt today, the Speaker of the House ruled an amendment repealing New Hampshire’s invasive ultrasound mandate non-germane preventing it from being voted on by the House. The Speaker had already approved the report over a month ago, including it in the House Calendar for this week.
The Speaker clearly realized he would lose an honest debate and vote and chose this unprecedented abuse of power to get his way. Manipulating the process to prevent debate on such an invasive mandate is shameful and telling. Because of this action, women in New Hampshire will remain forced to undergo a procedure that is not medically necessary at the dictation of Republican legislators, not doctors. The people of New Hampshire, who overwhelmingly oppose Governor Sununu’s abortion ban, will not let this attempted cover up stand.”
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