Maggee Hangge testifies in opposition to H.F. 91 in House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Chair Moller and Members of the Committee:

My name is Maggee Hangge, and I am a policy associate at the Minnesota Catholic Conference. I am here today to share our opposition to H.F. 91.

Removing health and safety protections for women seeking an abortion is an unnecessary and reckless measure to take. 

Many of these laws are long-standing, and were passed with bipartisan support. Parental notification has been in place since 1981 and the physicians-only law was put on the books even before that.

In the letter distributed to all members from the Catholic bishops of Minnesota on H.F. 1, they encouraged the Legislature to, at minimum, build common ground around limiting post-viability abortions. That is a reasonable, and quite generous, suggestion. We should not be killing babies when they could survive outside the womb, have a beating heart, and can feel pain.

In addition, minor girls should be protected from the harms of abortion. With these safeguards, they are not being asked to get parental consent, but simply to notify their parents. Giving girls information on their options does not coerce them one way or the other. And asking them to wait 24 hours is a reasonable amount of time for someone to decide if abortion is truly the best decision. None of these safeguards prohibit abortion. They merely help the expectant mother determine her path.

Who are we as a state if we cannot come together around such common-sense laws?

Finally, the expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion is a grave insult to the many Minnesotans who are opposed to the practice of abortion, and, does not represent a One Minnesota approach. This looks more like retribution against political opponents on behalf of abortion providers.

While we may disagree on the premise of abortion and what “rights” people should have, it is disheartening to see such blatant disrespect for mothers, fathers, and most especially, for the unborn. Please vote no on this barbaric bill. Thank you.