VOA标准英语2013--Legislators Imposing Limits on Abortion at US State Level

 

Legislators Imposing¹ Limits on Abortion² at US State Level

The Texas Capitol was besieged³ by emotional protest - those in blue pushing to restrict abortions⁴ and opponents of the restrictions⁵ wearing orange.  

One of them was Krista, an opponent of Texas abortion law, who said, "I don't know, but to me it feels like a political movement backed by religion trying to force the values of a minority of Americans on the rest of us,"

Some anti-abortion protestors, though, who call themselves "pro-life," see this as an ethical⁶ issue that goes beyond religion.

For Gloria Jane it is personal, and she expressed regret over the abortion she had as a teenager. "Abortion is just not right, it is just not right, you will feel the pain from it later."

And now Republican Governor Rick Perry has signed the measure, which outlaws⁷ abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy⁸ and requires costly⁹ upgrades to abortion clinics.

The law was passed by the Republican-dominated legislature. Democrats¹⁰ promised lawsuits¹¹ to block its implementation¹².

National groups pushing for a woman’s right to an abortion, which call themselves “pro-choice,” say the new Texas law is similar to those passed in other states.

Elizabeth Nash follows abortion legislation for the Guttmacher Institute in Washington. "There have been 180 abortion restrictions enacted¹³ since 2012 in a total of 30 states, so that is just a huge number of restrictions in a huge part of the country," she said.

The U.S. Supreme¹⁴ Court has ruled that abortion is legal but that the states can regulate it.

So, pro-life groups are sponsoring legislation state-by-state to impose stricter regulations on clinics and doctors who perform abortions, especially late-term procedures. They are gaining ground in Republican-dominated states, although they are facing challenges in court.

In Kansas, a law requiring that women seeking abortions be hospitalized has been challenged by a judge

A new North Dakota law that requires abortion doctors to be given admitting privileges at nearby hospitals also is under challenge. A similar law signed by Alabama's governor has been blocked by the courts.

Abortion opponents are fueled, though, by the recent trial of a Philadelphia doctor convicted of murder in late term abortions at his clinic described as a "house of horrors."

Mallory Quigley, who represents the Susan B. Anthony List, said, “This is a problem that needs to be dealt with now and we have got to stop the abortionists that are brutalizing women, brutalizing late-term children capable of feeling pain.”

In public opinion polls, most Americans do oppose late-term abortions, but a large majority also opposes an outright¹⁵ ban on abortions. 

1 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

2 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

3 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

4 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

7 outlaws   

歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯

参考例句：

• During his year in the forest, Robin met many other outlaws. 在森林里的一年，罗宾遇见其他许多绿林大盗。
• I didn't have to leave the country or fight outlaws. 我不必离开自己的国家，也不必与不法分子斗争。

8 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

12 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

13 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

14 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

15 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。