Brendan Boyle’s Anti-Choice Record

Brendan Boyle’s Anti-Choice Record

Named an Anti-Choice All Star by Democrats For Life of America

Boyle Listed as Democrats for Life “All Star.” Democrats for Life of America, the “preeminent national organization for pro-life Democrats,” listed Boyle under the headline “Below is a list of our All Star Pro-Life Democrats.” [Source]

Pledged to block Planned Parenthood funding

Boyle Stated His Opposition to Public Funding for Abortions and of Organizations that Advocate or Perform Abortions. In a 2004 National Political Awareness Test, Boyle stated he supported abortions in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the woman was endangered. He also stated he supported prohibiting public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions. [Source]

Supported drastic restrictions on abortion providers

Boyle Voted for HB 574 Which Included Additional Requirements on Abortion Providers like Planned Parenthood. On May 11, 2011 Boyle voted for HB 574, “An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, further providing for definitions, licensure, fees and issuance of license; and making an inconsistent repeal.” According to the May 10, 2011 House Committee on Appropriations Fiscal Note for HB 574, “This legislation would provide a definition for an ‘abortion facility’ and include abortion facility under the definition of ’health care facility’; would require the Department of Health to apply the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements and quality assurance procedures to abortion facilities that are applied to freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities; would establish a new $250 licensure application or licensure renewal fee for an abortion facility; and would require that the abortion facility is in compliance with the requirements of the Abortion Control Act (Chapter 32 of Title 18) for licensure. The legislation also repeals the definition of abortion facility from the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act to the extent that it excludes abortion facilities not subject to licensure under this legislation.” The bill passed the Pennsylvania State House, 148-43. The bill received no vote in the Senate. [Pennsylvania House of Representatives, HB 574, Final Passage, RCS#322, 5/11/11; Pennsylvania House Committee on Appropriations Fiscal Note House Bill 574, 5/10/11]

HB 574 was Opposed by ACLU and Planned Parenthood. PoliticsPA posted an article highlighting opposition to HB 574 from the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. “The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania issued a press release, and took the time to post a video campaign to raise awareness about the legislation via Facebook. ‘It is absolutely clear that House Bill 574 is an attempt to put providers out of business. It is not about patient safety,’ said Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. It ‘would effectively close most and maybe all of the independent abortion clinics in Pennsylvania.  The requirements of this House bill will cost abortion providers hundreds of thousands of dollars in building renovations and staff increases. If HB 574 becomes law,’ Hoover added, ‘women will still seek abortion care, but with reputable clinics closed, the chances increase that women will seek abortions from doctors like Gosnell.’ Sari Stevens, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PA Advocates expressed her strong discontent with HB 574 in the interview with Hoover from ACLU-PA. ‘Texas in particular had a similar bill pass, and 18 of the 20 providers immediately went out of business and never returned to practice,’ said Stevens.” [Source]

In December 2011 Boyle Voted for SB 732. On December 13, 2011 Boyle voted for final passage of SB 732. The short title is, “An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, further providing for definitions, for licensure, for application for license, for issuance of license and for inspections.” The “final passage” vote in the House passed by 151-44. [General Assembly of Pennsylvania Session of 2011, SB 732, House Final Passage, 12/13/11]

The Bill Would Require the Department of Health to Apply to Abortion Facilities the Same Regulations Applicable to Ambulatory Surgical Facilities and Allows an Abortion Facility to Request an Exception. According to the House Committee on Appropriations Fiscal Note from December 13, 2011, “This legislation would provide a definition for an ‘abortion facility’. Specifically, the bill would require the Department of Health to apply to abortion facilities the same regulations applicable to ambulatory surgical facilities and allows an abortion facility to request an exception; the department shall apply the same procedures/ criteria that are applicable to other health care facilities in considering the request for an exception; an abortion facility would be required to continue to comply with the applicable provisions of the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act and to comply with federal privacy statutes including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPA) Act; the department would be required to conduct at least one annual unannounced inspection of each abortion facility while respecting the privacy of each patient; would establish a new $250 licensure application or licensure renewal fee for an abortion facility; and would require that the abortion facility is in compliance with the requirements of the Abortion Control Act (Chapter 32 of Title 8) for licensure. The legislation would also establish the Licensure Fee Account in the General Fund; fees for abortion facilities would be deposited in to the Account and the money in the Account is appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for use in the performance of its duties.” [Pennsylvania House Committee on Appropriations SB 732 Fiscal Note, 12/13/11]

SB 732 Would Require the State’s 22 Free-Standing Abortion Facilities to Become Licensed as Ambulatory Surgical Facilities and Be Subject to At Least One Annual, Unannounced Inspection by the State Department of Health. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, “Abortion clinics in Pennsylvania face stricter health and safety regulations under a measure lawmakers sent to Gov. Tom Corbett today. The proposal sponsored by state Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland County, would require the state’s 22 free-standing abortion facilities to become licensed as ambulatory surgical facilities and be subject to at least one annual, unannounced inspection by the state Department of Health. The state Senate concurred with changes made to the plan by the state House by a 32-18 vote this afternoon. House members approved the bill 151-44 on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for Corbett said the governor intends to sign the bill, but does not have a specific time frame yet for doing so.” [Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 12/14/11]

Legislation was Opposed by Associations of Medical Professionals, Including Obstetricians, Gynecologists and Social Workers; Opponents Warn That the Cost of Complying with the Regulations Could Force Some Women’s Health Clinics to Stop Performing Abortions. According to the Associated Press, “The Senate voted 32-18 on Wednesday in favor of a bill that would require clinics performing abortions to meet the same licensing standards as ambulatory surgical facilities. Corbett is expected to sign it into law. Clinics can seek exceptions from the state Department of Health under the bill. Anti-abortion groups support the measure, but it is opposed by groups that support abortion rights as well as by associations of medical professionals, including obstetricians, gynecologists and social workers. Opponents warn that the cost of complying with the regulations could force some women’s health clinics to stop performing abortions. (Senate Bill 732)” [Associated Press, 12/15/11]

Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates Said “When Women Lose Access to the High-Quality Providers Through Unnecessary Overregulation, We will Know Who to Blame.” According to the Inquirer, “Critics called the bill ‘irresponsible’ and ‘pandering to special interests.’ Sen. Larry Farnese (D., Phila.) said the bill was ‘not about Gosnell or helping women,’ but ‘would hurt people and take away rights the Supreme Court says they have.’ The bill mirrors restrictive legislation in other states that is under consideration or has become law, among them South Carolina and Texas, where clinics have closed as a result. As one indication of the level of controversy over the legislation, the sponsor of the original bill – Sen. Pat Vance (R., Cumberland), a former nurse and one of the few medical professionals in the General Assembly – voted against it. Vance’s original bill mandated inspections of freestanding facilities – those not connected to a hospital – but did not require physical plant or staffing changes that clinic operators say would be prohibitively expensive. […] ‘It is a devastatingly sad day for Pennsylvanians,’ said Sari Stevens, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates. ‘When women lose access to the high-quality providers through unnecessary overregulation, we will know who to blame.’ The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, along with a slew of Pennsylvania hospitals, including the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, voiced opposition to the legislation.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/15/11]

Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Headline: New abortion-clinic rules would harm women. According to a December 2011 Inquirer Editorial, “Gov. Corbett should carefully consider the consequences and refuse to sign legislation that would roll back women’s ability to obtain safe abortions. Before it adjourned for the holidays, the state Senate approved a bill Wednesday that goes too far in tightening regulations on abortion clinics. Supporters say the measure will prevent more travesties such as the deaths of unborn babies that led to murder charges against Kermit Gosnell, the operator of a Philadelphia abortion clinic. Bad clinics that recklessly endanger the health of women and the lives of unborn children should be closed immediately. But that is not the true motivation behind this legislation. This bill represents a blatant attempt to shut down even those abortion clinics that have operated safely and without incident for years. It’s worth noting that Sen. Pat Vance (R., Cumberland), a former nurse who sponsored the original bill, voted against this more draconian version, which dropped provisions that were more directly aimed at preventing another Gosnell atrocity. The Senate bill requires the state’s 22 free-standing abortion clinics to abide by the more stringent fire, safety, and staffing regulations of nonhospital surgery centers. The expense of meeting those standards will put many abortion clinics out of business. Having fewer clinics in the state will severely reduce access to vital health services for 37,000 women, many of them low-income, who seek safe, legal abortions each year, not to mention thousands of others who need birth control, cancer screenings, and other tests. […] These attacks on reproductive health rights must stop, especially in a state that already has some of the toughest abortion laws.” [Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, 12/16/11]