Sole Miss. abortion clinic readies for license revocation hearing; N.Y. Gov.'s abortion bill criticized

Mississippi health department officials are challenging the license of the state's only abortion clinic, while critics of a proposal to expand abortion rights by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo say it would hurt women.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Only Miss. Abortion Clinic Set For License Revocation Hearing; State Says Violating New Law
Mississippi's only abortion clinic says it is scheduled for an April 18 license revocation hearing before the state Department of Health. The Center for Reproductive Rights said Wednesday that the Jackson Women's Health Organization had received notice of the hearing date (2/27).

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: Critics: NY Gov's Abortion Bill Would Hurt Women
A coalition of doctors said Wednesday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's abortion rights bill would hurt women, force many into lifetime bouts of depression and guilt and make late-term abortions more common and more dangerous. The group's press conference was the first effort outside the state Conservative Party, the Republican Party and the Catholic Conference to oppose Cuomo's proposed Women's Reproductive Health Act (2/27).

In the meantime, abortion-rights group NARAL is redefining "choice" to include access to fertility treatments and is endorsing longtime Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts in his bid for the Senate --

Politico: Long After Roe V. Wade, NARAL To Redefine Choice
The new head of NARAL Pro-Choice America is ready to redefine "choice." It's the right to end a pregnancy -- and the right to start one, including access to pricey fertility treatment. Once a baby is born, parents should have paid family leave to take care of them (Smith, 2/28).

Boston Globe: Markey Says Abortion Shift Was Personal
Since U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston backed off his staunch opposition to abortion early this month, his rival for U.S. Senate has been trying to distinguish himself as the only Democrat in the race who is "100 percent pro-choice." U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey of Malden has made the case so well, in fact, that the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America plans to formally endorse him on Thursday. But three decades ago, Markey was also an abortion opponent who had a conversion before embarking on a campaign for higher office. His evolution began as a congressman, months before he ran for the same Senate seat he's seeking now (Ebbert, 2/28).