Anti-abortion measures gaining momentum in the states

In the past six weeks, four states — Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas and North Dakota — have adopted some of the most stringent restrictions on abortion in the nation. On Friday, Virginia may join the list when the state’s Board of Health votes on whether to require abortion clinics to meet hospital standards on a permanent basis. …

But in the states, Republicans had another banner election year, making it easier for abortion opponents to enact restrictions. There are 23 states where Republicans now control the governorship and the state legislature, compared with 14 where Democrats hold such an advantage. …

While states adopted a high number of abortion restrictions in both 2011 and 2012, the nature of the laws enacted this year is different, activists say. In Arkansas, the state legislature overrode the governor’s veto last month to ban abortions starting at 12 weeks. On Tuesday, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed legislation to prohibit abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks. That same day, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed a law requiring doctors providing abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

The Kansas legislature passed a measure last week that says life begins at fertilization, bars tax breaks for abortion providers and prohibits abortions based on sex selection. Gov. Sam Brownback (R) has pledged to sign the measure.