Lawmaker Calls For Abortion Clinics To Be Licensed

(KNSI) – A Minnesota lawmaker has proposed a bill to license abortion clinics.

The legislation would require abortion clinics to be licensed the same way as birthing facilities. Right now, abortion clinics aren’t licensed.

District 31 Senator Michelle Benson of Ham Lake was a guest on KNSI’s Ox in the Afternoon and says licensing abortion clinics makes common sense.

“There are some things that we could do to make sure that the women who access these facilities are in a safe place. Our hospitals are licensed. Our nursing homes are licensed. Birthing facilities are licensed. So, why shouldn’t we license abortion clinics?”

Benson says licensing would mean Minnesota would inspect the abortion clinics.

“By licensing we can say, you know what, we don’t have to agree with what goes on, but we at least have to have it be a place where there is some respect for the babies who are killed there. And for the women who go and, this isn’t a trivial procedure, it’s an invasive procedure.”

Those against the bill fear any changes to abortion law or clinics would restrict a woman’s right to an abortion and is seen as the start of a slippery slope.

Senate File 1636 has been approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and will now make its way to the Civil Law Committee.

Benson expects the bill to get a vote on the Senate floor.

The legislation passed both the House and the Senate in 2012 but was vetoed by then-Governor Mark Dayton.

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