Appeals court hears abortion law case
NEW ORLEANS – A federal appeals court heard arguments Monday on whether the state of Texas can enforce a law that led to the closing of several abortion clinics, a case that ultimately appears bound for the U.S. Supreme Court.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans didn’t indicate how soon it would rule on whether a district judge erred in declaring parts of the 2013 law unconstitutional.
Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued to block two of the law’s provisions. One requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges within 30 miles of where the abortion is performed. The other restricts how doctors administer abortion-inducing drugs.
The groups say U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel correctly ruled that the provisions place an unconstitutional burden on access to abortion. But the state argues that the new requirements promote the health and safety of abortion patients and advance the state’s “interest in protecting fetal life.”
Senate confirms Yellen as new head of Fed
WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed Janet Yellen on Monday as the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve, elevating an advocate of fighting unemployment and a backer of the central bank’s efforts to spur the economy with low interest rates and massive bond purchases.
Yellen, 67, will replace Ben Bernanke, who is stepping down after serving as chairman for eight years dominated by the Great Recession and the Fed’s efforts to combat it.
Senators confirmed her by 56-26, with numerous absences caused by airline flight delays.. All 45 voting Democrats were joined by 11 Republicans in supporting Yellen, while 26 Republicans voted “no.”
Vice chair of the Fed since 2010, Yellen begins her four-year term as leader of the century-old bank on Feb. 1. With the economy rebounding from the depths of the recession but only modestly so far, many economists expect her to focus on how to nurture growth without putting it into overdrive, which could risk fueling inflation.
Associated Press
