Is this really the will of the people? Is abortion accessibility a top-tier statewide public concern?
Yet, in the wake of Kermit Gosnell, charged in January with the murder of a woman and seven babies at his "house of horrors" Philly clinic, lawmakers are pushing for more regulation of all abortion-providers.
This from a body run by Republicans, the party of less government, less regulation - talk about situational beliefs.
There are 20 free-standing clinics in the state and two clinic-like providers at hospitals, all in or near urban areas.
Lawmakers propose treating these as outpatient surgical facilities, meaning they'd all need large surgical suites, large hospital-type elevators and full-time, on-site registered nurses.
Providers say such increased regulation isn't needed and will force clinics to close, at least until they upgrade, and possibly permanently depending on costs.
God forbid someone with sense would apply the regulations only to new clinics.
A cynic might suggest this whole exercise is nothing more than a pro-life fundraiser - for that matter, a pro-choice fundraiser.
No matter. Such a measure passed the House last month, 148-43, with bipartisan support.
The Senate version is an amendment by Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Montco, a/k/a "The Gunslinger," who's appealing a recent conviction on charges that he "displayed" a handgun to a fellow motorist on I-78 during a little road-rage fun.
His effort is vigorously supported by Sen. Jane Orie, R-Pittsburgh, whose political-corruption charges led to a mistrial but who now awaits a second trial.
(Neither of these servants should be confused with Democratic Reps. John Galloway, Bucks County, or Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia, both recently charged with DUI, but it seems to me that lawmakers might want to focus on self-regulation.)
