House debates limiting pregnancy terminations

On Wednesday, March 9, the House will vote on HB 1328, which would limit pregnancy terminations to pregnancies of 20 weeks or less.

Currently, New Hampshire bans "partial-birth" abortions and requires parental notification before a minor's abortion. New Hampshire only provides public funding for abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape, and/or incest.

Supporters of the bill cite a Gallup Poll which indicates that 80% of the nation agrees that abortion should be banned after viability. 

Opponents, however, contend that women with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and epilepsy or other seizure disorders may face dangerous complications at or past week 20, while HB 1328 does not have adequate exceptions for the mother's health.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and education organization, New Hampshire had an abortion rate of 12.9 per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 2011 (the most recent year for which data is available). In contrast, the rate for the entire U.S. was 16.9 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.