Breaching the Great Wall of Pro-Choice Denial

On Sept. 13, 1989, a month after Pennsylvania's health department conducted its next-to-last inspection of Kermit Gosnell's clinic, the Florida House Health Care Committee met to prepare for an upcoming special session on abortion. Gov. Bob Martinez, emboldened by a U.S. Supreme Court newly amenable to abortion restrictions, had called the session to enact several anti-abortion bills, including tighter regulation of clinic safety. He wanted to make Florida a pro-life showcase, and pro-choicers intended to stop him. Testifying before the committee, clinic owner Patricia Windle condemned legislation that would give state inspectors broad access to abortion facilities. She declared, "Regulation is a euphemism for an excuse to interfere and opportunity to burden."