According to reports in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the burglary appeared to be well-planned and targeted computer equipment belonging to the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (GOGS). GOGS is a membership organization made up of almost 1,000 OB/GYN providers.
Staff and members of GOGS have been vocally opposed to these three controversial proposals during this year’s Georgia General Assembly.
— House Bill 954 would criminalize a woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks with few exceptions, would expose physicians to felony convictions and penalties of up to 10 years in prison, and would require public reporting of all terminations. HB954 has already passed the House and on Monday evening passed the Senate Health and Human Services committee by a close voice vote. The bill now goes to the Senate Rules committee, which sets the calendar of bills for debate and vote on the Senate floor. The state legislature works through Thursday of this week for days 35, 36 and 37 of the 40-day session.
— Senate Bill 438 would prohibit state employee health insurance plans from offering coverage for abortion care. SB438 has already passed the Senate and is now under consideration by the House Insurance committee.
— Senate Bill 434, which did not pass the Senate before “crossover day,” would have allowed insurance companies to drop abortion care as a covered medical procedure in certain health plans.
Georgia’s WIN List stands by GOGS, their members, and the many other physicians and specialists who have been fighting for privacy, dignity, quality and choice in women’s health care. These issues have become so politicized in an election year that the bills under consideration will certainly end in a costly and lengthy legal battle – after having been well-used in the November elections, of course.