'We Are a Laughingstock of the World'

Protesters gather in Richmond.

Virginia's Republicans continue their rush toward international ridicule with legislation setting the commonwealth firmly in the 19th Century. Led by Kathy Byron of Lynchburg and Robert Marshall of Prince William, the Republican Cult is forging ahead with legislation that is especially egregious toward women.

Kathy Byron of Lynchburg

Hundreds of women protested outside the Senate this morning and it got ugly at several points.

"We're racing to the dark ages," for ideological reasons, lamented Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, noting several bills (and not including gun legislation Republican Cultists have been trying to ram through for years, but finally have the votes to do.

Here is this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the best source for General Assembly coverage in Virginia. 

Sen. Mamie E. Locke, D-Hampton is quoted as saying, "We are a laughingstock of the world because of things like this ... The individual rights of women are being challenged continuously."

Katherine Greenier, director of the Women’s Rights Project with the ACLU of Virginia was quoted as saying, “This bill would lay the legal foundation to ban abortion and contraception in the event of a Supreme Court reversal [of Roe v. Wade]. ... The amendment is nonsensical. We’re now mandating that a doctor perform a test on a woman, whether she consents or not, that is medically unnecessary. I can’t think of a bigger intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship.

Democrat Richard Saslaw of Fairfax said, bluntly, “Republicans are really screwing this place up.”

The Republicans are supported strongly in the Roanoke area by millionaire Sen. Ralph Smith and House member Greg Habeeb.

(Photo: Richmond Times-Dispatch)