Process Begins To Overturn Virginia's Abortion Regulations

Hat tip, DCist: Morning Roundup: Downers Edition

Process Begins To Overturn Virginia's Abortion Regulations

By: Michael Pope
December 4, 2014

Virginia abortion rights supporters are cheering a vote taken Thursday by the Board of Health to review strict standards regulating women's health clinics.

The vote, which was 13-2, begins a two-year process toward overturning the regulations — a controversial set of rules that were created during the administration of former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and which Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe promised to overturn.

The regulations hold women's health clinics to hospital construction standards. Abortion rights supporters say they are designed to put existing clinics out of business, although abortion opponents say they're intended to protect women's health.
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After his election, McAuliffe appointed new members to the Board of Health. Just this week, he added former Arlington State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple. But what happens when a Republican becomes governor? {Quentin Kidd of Christopher Newport University} says that could eventually bring the regulations back.