Last week Florida House and Senate passed some very important legislation concerning FL abortions. The amendment requires women to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion. Doctors or nurses must also describe the development of the fetus according to what is seen in the ultrasound. Women can choose to not see the ultrasound but will need to sign off in that instance.

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

The Florida House approved a contentious anti-abortion measure today requiring pregnant women pay for an ultrasound exam before receiving an abortion, sending it to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature or veto.

The abortion restriction, unveiled in the closing days of the 2010 legislative session, opened raw and emotional divisions among legislators as they prepared to leave Tallahassee for the summer. The debate was so heated and, at times, graphic, House Republican leaders ordered teenage pages off the House floor and cleared the public galleries of children. Two Democrats wept as they spoke against the ultrasound mandate.

Largely along party lines, the Republican-controlled House approved the abortion bill 76-44 Friday. The Senate had voted for the measure a day earlier, 23-16.

Opponents called the ultrasound mandate a government intrusion on a decision that should be left to women. “Stand down if you don’thave ovaries,” said Rep. Janet Long, D-Tampa.

Republicans characterized the bill as an attempt to give pregnant women more information before choosing to have an abortion. Several Republicans decried abortion and the 1973 Supreme Court decision that gave constitutional protections to the procedure, Roe v. Wade.

Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, who had an unplanned pregnancy as a senior in high school, said women should see the heartbeat, arms and legs before choosing to have an abortion.

Here is an a short email from Rep. Charles Van Zant, who has been a strong proponent in the FL House for the unborn; and has been a great contact person during this session:

First, thanks to each of you for responding to my recent e-mails regarding HB1143. Your responses to legislators were well received; so much so that this bill was approved by our State Senate late Thursday, and was passed by our House of Representatives Friday morning.

The bill must now be signed by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. Afterwards, it will be sent to Governor Crist, who has 15 days to act after he receives the bill.

Florida has never used tax dollars to pay for abortions. Unless HB1143 becomes law, ObamaCare will force Floridians to further drain tax dollars to fund abortions on demand. Therefore, I still need your help with this bill.

As soon as I learn that Governor Crist has received the bill for signing, I will send an e-mail to each of you, asking that you join me in a 15 day e-mail campaign in favor of HB1143. Please be thinking of a short message or two that you can e-mail to Governor Crist, asking him to allow HB1143 to become law and save our tax dollars. We'll keep you posted.

Thank you sincerely,
Charles Van Zant
State Representative, District 21

Let's keep praying and pressing in for Gov. Crist to choose what is righteous and sign this bill into law.