“With the current law in place, I will tell you, I wake up fearful of my pregnancy and what it would mean for my children, my husband and my parents if something happened to me and the doctor cannot perform lifesaving measures,” she told her fellow lawmakers last February, her voice faltering as tears threatened.
Rehfeldt was a stroke survivor and her pregnancy put her at high risk for blood clots and heart issues that could kill her. The state’s ban made abortion a felony unless it was “necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant female.” If Rehfeldt developed complications, doctors told her, the law didn’t make clear how close to death she needed to be before they could act.
“When can a doctor intervene? Do I need to have my brain so oxygen-deprived to the point that I am nonfunctional?” she asked the room.
Republicans love this issue so much for one reason. It’s pretty much the only way to pretend to “care about human life” without advocating using a penny of their money in taxes to help anyone.
Republicans only care when it’s free to, and bonus, they get to be cruel to the women who need abortions, usually due to economic hardship while doing it. Because sex should be the exclusive purview of people with capital, amirite?
Let kids starve, let the homeless die of exposure, let the sick lose everything, let students indenture themselves, let the planet burn, and fuck everyone it might take a little tax revenue to help. Hell, I know some self professed Democrats, neoliberals of course, that agree with some of these. We are beyond lost.