Abby Johnson: Abortion Clinics Must be Regulated Like Medical Facilities

Testimony resumed Monday on SB1 in Austin, and continues. That’s the abortion bill that state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) filibustered and then a mob shouted down in the Texas legislature’s first special session. Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director, testified that despite what her former employer says, yes, abortion clinics are unsafe and must be subjected to stronger oversight.

Watching the debate as it has gone on over the past couple of weeks, I can’t help but be struck by a glaring irony. The left have come out in force to support lower regulations for a billion dollar corporation that lives off of government corporate welfare. In what industry outside abortion would they do this? I can’t think of one.

The bill in question would ban abortions after 20 weeks, and bring Texas abortion clinics up to the standards already mandated for other ambulatory surgical facilities. Planned Parenthood wants unrestricted abortion at largely unregulated clinics, and the usually regulation-happy Democrats agree with them.