***Rep. Andy Gipson (R - Braxton) attempting to revive forced transvaginal ultrasounds***

The debate is over SB 2771, which Rep. Andy Gipson (R - Braxton) amended in committee to include language forcing women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds prior to any abortion procedure.  (Including abortions performed for the reasons of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.)  Follow along live here.

***Correction - Gipson has offered an amendment to SB 2771 that would create an exception for rape, incest, or life of the mother cases.

TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND BILL DEAD

Sen. Hob Bryan (D - Amory) today killed HB 1196, the forced transvaginal ultrasound bill, by not calling it up for consideration in Senate Judiciary B, the committee he chairs.  The bill passed the House earlier in the month, leading to fears that the State of Mississippi would effectively violate rape victims a second time by forcing doctors to insert the transvaginal ultrasound wand into their vaginas prior to the termination of their rape-induced pregnancy.  Kudos to Sen. Bryan for having more courage than quite a number of his colleagues.

Rep. Andy Gipson (R - Braxton) gets busy amending Senate bills in committee, trying to save House bills floundering in Senate

Word is that Rep. Andy Gipson (R - Braxton) has amended two Senate bills this morning in an effort to save the House anti-immigrant bill and the House forced transvaginal ultrasound bill.  Rep. Gipson amended SB 2549, a counterfeit goods measure, to include the language of the HB 488.  HB 488 was referred by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) to Senate Judiciary B yesterday, where many think it will die.  Rep. Gipson also amended SB 2771, a bill to increase the penalty for manslaughter against a child, to include the language from the forced transvaginal ultrasound bill, HB 1196.  HB 1196 was also referred to Senate Judiciary B yesterday.