National Public Radio reported yesterday about a new bill in Tennessee waiting for the governor's signature that will make it a crime for women to give birth to drug-addicted babies. Though the bill contains a provision that would allow pregnant mothers to seek treatment instead of doing jail time - up to 15 years if convicted for aggravated assault - the new law is expected to deter women from the treatment they might otherwise have sought out if not for the threat of punishment. Sadly, this bill "enjoys bi-partisan support - despite objections from doctors."
As anyone in the addiction field could tell the Tennessee legislature, addiction is an illness, not a crime. The lack of understanding of medical science combined with sexism and a need to blame has resulted in a bill that will create more suffering and more crime when it becomes law.
It seems that Democrats are not immune to making bad choices for women.