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Pa. House To Debate Tighter Standards For Abortion Clinics

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The state House this week is expected to take up a controversial measure that would create tougher standards for Pennsylvania abortion clinics (see related story), resulting from a grand jury report into horrors at a West Philadelphia facility.

Opponents of the measure, which would require abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers, say it would shut down clinics that won't be able to afford expensive upgrades to facilities and staff. Among the critics is Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams.

House Republican Matt Baker, the sponsor of the bill, is miffed, saying he's only trying to implement the recommendations of the grand jury report.

"We have 212 ambulatory surgical centers in Pennsylvania, and it's my understanding that these abortion clinics are the only ones that are exempt from that law," Baker says. "And my goodness, they're performing serious surgical procedures."

But the DA , in a letter to lawmakers, says what the grand jury wanted was only for abortion clinics that fall under the current regulatory framework as ambulatory surgical centers to be licensed as such under existing law.

Reported by Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060

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