Right now, states can ban abortions in the third trimester if they choose to do so. So the new definition of Roe vs. Wade, in my opinion, will be 15 weeks. That's a dramatic reduction.

What do you think? Will they completely overturn Roe? Will they leave it entirely in place?

Source: Daily News

De Blasio considering second shot, booster vaccination mandate for NYC restaurants, concerts as omicron bears down

A day after announcing five people in New York State tested positive for COVID’s omicron variant, Mayor de Blasio said Friday he is considering tightening vaccine mandates when it comes to restaurants and concert venues.

Such a mandate could include a second shot of the COVID vaccine, as well as boosters shots.



Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-nyc-covid-de-blasio-wants-full-vaccination-boosters-for-restaurants-concerts-20211203-itef77nw7be3neikwlya4du7du-story.html

---

How about a mask mandate, Mr. Mayor?

Source: Politico

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A three-judge panel overseeing a recount in a close Virginia Beach state House race upheld the Republican candidate’s victory on Friday, a decision that also reaffirms the GOP’s takeover of the chamber and completes the party’s sweep of last month’s elections.

Republicans also claimed the statewide offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in the Nov. 2 election. Those wins were a dramatic turnaround in a state where the GOP had not won a statewide race since 2009.

The certified results from the election showed Republicans leading in 52 districts and the Democrats leading in 48. The recount in the 85th District race resulted in Democratic incumbent Alex Askew gaining 12 votes, but he still trailed Republican challenger Karen Greenhalgh by 115 votes. There was one contested ballot. The panel found that the intent of the voter was unclear, so that ballot was not counted for either candidate.


After Democrats requested recounts in two races with razor-thin margins, that left open the remote possibility of a 50-50 split.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/03/virginia-gop-election-sweep-523714

On January 15, 2020, Virginia became the 38th state the ratify it. Since then, I haven't seen much (if anything at all) about the ERA in the news. What is the next step?

Now, I know this is extremely complicated because there was a ratification date that's long passed, and there was states that rescinded. Some argue that there is no time limit, while others say it's different if it's directly put into the bill like this was. Ruth Bader Ginsburg says deadline to ratify Equal Rights Amendment has expired: 'I'd like it to start over'. Can a state rescind before ratification? That's never been decided either. But can we at least try to make the ERA law?

The reason that I brought the ERA up is that it likely renders Roe unnecessary. The ERA should guarantee a woman the right to choose.

Source: Business Insider

Justice Coney Barrett questions if adoption laws could eliminate the 'burden' of parenthood for abortion seekers

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett raised questions about the impact of safe haven laws during Supreme Court arguments about a Mississippi abortion law; the outcome of which could overturn Roe V. Wade.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization — which focuses on a 2018 Mississippi law — threatens abortion rights established during the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

The Mississippi law bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, despite the Roe ruling which bars states from banning abortions prior to the 24-week mark — near the viability stage of pregnancy when a fetus is commonly able to sustain itself outside of the uterus.

"I have a question about safe haven laws. You can terminate parental rights by relinquishing a child after giving birth. The cases emphasized the burden of parenting. But women don't have to parent if they don't want to! Why don't safe haven laws take care of that?" asked Barrett, who has seven kids, two of whom are adopted.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/amy-coney-barrett-asks-safe-haven-laws-solutions-unwanted-motherhood-2021-12