Leader Don Scott vs. Republican Freitas on #Abortion

RICHMOND, VA — In eight minutes on Jan. 24, Virginia House Minority Leader Don Scott and Republican Delegate Nick Freitas encapsulated the angles of argument and policy views of both parties in Virginia on abortion.

Leader Scott took the floor to point out that two Republican abortion bills that have received much media attention (in part because they reflect the views of GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin) aren’t being debated in detail in committee. They are HB 1395 by Republican Delegate Marie March and HB 2278 by Republican Delegate Kathy Byron.

“You may ask why they won’t be docketed,” Leader Scott asked out loud. “Because Republicans are scared to death to go on the record against women — against choice — in an election year. Smart thinking. And they should be,” he continued, answering his own question.

“Women across the Commonwealth have been clear: They do not want an abortion ban. These two bills go directly against the will of the people of Virginia. Their patrons aren't taking their inspiration from the people they represent, they're taking their inspiration from the MAGA movement,” he continued.

HB 2278 is a 15 week abortion ban bill that would make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion. That Class 4 felony carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years and a $100,000 fine. HB 1395 mandates that life begins at conception and opens the door to women being charged with manslaughter — even in the case of a miscarriage. The legislation offers no exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of incest, rape or a pregnancy that may jeopardize the life of the mother.

Black women in the U.S. are nearly three times as likely to die delivering a baby. In early 2022, a CDC study released that Black women were dying at a rate of 55.3 deaths for every 100,000 live births — a number three times higher than whites or Hispanics. The Black maternal mortality rate gained media attention in 2018 (and in 2022) after tennis superstar Serena Williams revealed she nearly died giving birth to her daughter in early 2017.

“They are saying the quiet part out loud: Republicans want to implement an abortion ban and put a bounty on the head of any doctor who provides one and more importantly, any woman who needs that critical health care. So we know why you are introducing these bills. Yet will not docket them for a full hearing because you paid attention to the last election in Virginia Beach, the governor won election by five points in that district, but it was flipped and lost. This is what you're trying to do. You're trying to avoid having the conversation on banning abortions,” Leader Scott concluded.

Republican Nick Freitas, didn't address the lack of exceptions or the individual freedom issue the GOP is fond of bring up with Second Amendment issues, spoke after Leader Scott in response which can be seen in the video above.

The moment comes a week after new Virginia State Senator Aaron Rouse takes the reigns of power in Senate District 07 after defeating Republican Kevin Adams. Rouse’s win allows Democrats to have a four seat advantage in the Senate which is now 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans.

All the seats in the 100 seat Virginia House of Delegates and the 40 seat Virginia Senate are up for re-election on November 7, 2023… 285 days away. Redistricting has created several competitive and compelling races with incumbents facing each other. The primary date for this year is June 20… 145 days away.

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