Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Federal Candidates Have Carte Blanche To Raise Funds For Ballot Measures
President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and other federal candidates can now raise unlimited funds to support or oppose Missouri鈥檚 abortion rights amendment, under a legal opinion that paves the way for candidates to take a more active role in statewide ballot measures. (Shorman and Desrochers, 5/7)
On Monday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced she is suing the anti-abortion group Heartbeat International鈥攚hich claims to operate more than 3,000 CPCs worldwide鈥攁nd 11 other CPCs聽throughout the state for 鈥渦sing false and misleading statements鈥 to 鈥渁ggressively鈥 advertise the so-called treatment, which involves taking repeated doses of progesterone鈥攁 hormone the body produces during pregnancy鈥攁fter someone has taken mifepristone, the first of the two pills in the medication abortion regimen. (McShane, 5/6)
A federal judge on Monday rejected an attempt to toss a suit challenging Alabama鈥檚 attorney general鈥檚 threat to prosecute those who help with out-of-state travel for abortions, paving the way for the case to move forward. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, in a preliminary ruling Monday, said the case brought by the Yellowhammer Fund 鈥 a group that supports people who need out-of-state abortions in the Deep South 鈥 can continue their lawsuit, which argues Attorney General Steve Marshall鈥檚 (R) threats create an illegal chilling effect on the group鈥檚 freedom of expression. (Nazzaro, 5/6)
A House Rules Committee on a proposed Equal Rights Amendment moved the legislation forward Monday following discussion and public testimony 鈥 with language changes to include pregnancy protections 鈥 in a 9-5 vote. The Equal Rights Amendment would put protections in the Constitution providing for equal rights under the law regardless of sex, race, national origin or gender identity. The amendment proposal would also add protections in the constitution for abortion and LGBTQ rights. It also removes language surrounding religion and creed. (Leone, 5/6)
Opponents of Florida鈥檚 six-week abortion ban say the emergency rules issued by state health officials this week to clarify some medical exceptions don鈥檛 go far enough. The rules outline some life-threatening conditions a woman could experience that would allow doctors to perform an abortion after six weeks, including ectopic pregnancy or her water breaking early. (Colombini, 5/6)
In related news 鈥
The youngest generation of American workers is prepared to move away from states that pass abortion bans and to turn down job offers in states where bans are already in place, a new survey from CNBC/Generation Lab finds. (Gewirtz, 5/7)
For a long time, having children has been a young person鈥檚 game. Although ancient records are sparse, researchers estimate that, for most of human history, women most typically conceived their first child in their late teens or early 20s and stopped having kids shortly thereafter. But in recent decades, people around the world, especially in wealthy, developed countries, have been starting their families later and later. (Wu, 5/6)