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WA bill would allow Dept. of Corrections to distribute abortion pill to health providers


The abortion pill, Mifepristone, that a Washington bill would allow the DOC to distribute if passed. (KOMO)
The abortion pill, Mifepristone, that a Washington bill would allow the DOC to distribute if passed. (KOMO)
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Democrats in the State Senate appear to be fast-tracking a bill that would allow the Department of Corrections (DOC) to stockpile and distribute thousands of doses of Mifepristone.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee already announced a plan to stockpile 30,000 doses of the abortion pills in advance of a controversial Texas decision to lift FDA approval. A different Washington judge upheld the FDA approval, likely sending the case eventually to the Supreme Court.

Washington Sen. Karen Keiser, (D-Normandy Park), is the prime sponsor and spoke at a Senate hearing on the issue Monday.

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“How can we allow an unelected judge to take that right of reproductive freedom away,” she said to the audience in the hearing room. Numerous pastors and religious leaders testified against the measure.

However, with Republicans in the minority in both the state Senate and House, it seems like there will be little done to slow the bill.

A couple of ranking members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee asked questions related to the legality of the DOC distributing the drug. Sen/ Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro Woolley) asked if the distribution of a drug by the DOC to health care providers had ever been done before. DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange told him that it has happened before and is happening now, noting that the DOC is the state’s largest licensed pharmacy.

Minority Leader John Braun, (R-Centralia) asked if the DOC ever distributed non-FDA approved drugs, and was told yes by a panelist.

RELATED: Access to abortion pill in limbo after competing rulings

Keiser was asked by KOMO News about whether the state should take part in this and whether the FDA authorization being lifted would play any role in executing the legislation.

She said, “This Texas judge’s ruling is worrisome. If they can, in one judge’s personal opinion, repeal the FDA approval of a drug that’s been a safe and effective drug for 20 years, why can’t they repeal of approval of any other judge (like) a drug that treats HIV for instance?”

Keiser said the plan is to vote the legislation out of committee by Wednesday with the hope to pass the legislation in both chambers and get the governor’s signature by April 23.

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