New York City is poised to become the first city in the United States to directly finance abortions; allocating upwards of $250,000 to the New York Abortion Access Fund which provides abortions for low-income women across the five boroughs.
“Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, both Democrats, announced a budget agreement Friday, set to be voted on this week, that would allocate $250,000 to the New York Abortion Access Fund, which called it ‘extremely good news’ amid other states passing anti-abortion laws,” reports Fox News.
A third of the woman using the Access Fund come from outside the city.
“This initiative not only makes New York the first city in the nation to directly fund abortion services, but also lets any American who is facing increasing abortion restrictions in their home state know that they can come and get the services they need in the five boroughs,” Democratic Councilwoman Carlina Rivera of Manhattan said in a statement. “This fund is just another signal, another example of how New York State and New York City has to be that leader on this issue.”
“Now the abortion capital of the world NYC may actually use city taxpayer monies for an enticement fund to come terminate your children,” fired-back pro-life organization New York State Right to Life.
The issue of abortion has taken center stage in recent months.
The Governor of Illinois officially designated abortion a “fundamental right” throughout his state last Wednesday; removing nearly all restrictions on the practice after several conservative states passed so-called ‘Heartbeat’ legislation.
“The governor of the US state of Illinois on Wednesday enacted a law establishing a ‘fundamental right’ to abortion and removing old laws that criminalized the procedure,” reports France24. “The Illinois law was passed in response to a wave of bans and restrictions approved in other states, and Governor JB Pritzker hailed it as ‘a beacon of hope in the heart of this nation.’”
“Those opposed to women’s reproductive rights are emboldened,” the governor said, “And their hopeful eyes are on the highest court in the land.”
“We are building a firewall around Illinois to protect reproductive access for everyone,” said one state representative.
DEVELOPING NOW: Alabama Passes Strictest Pro-Life Legislation in America, Nearly All Abortions a ‘Felony’
Lawmakers in Alabama voted Tuesday to pass the strictest pro-life legislation in the United States; effectively banning nearly all abortions and making the medical procedure a felony that could carry a 99 year prison sentence for doctors.
“The Alabama Senate approved a measure on Tuesday that would outlaw almost all abortions in the state, setting up a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the case that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to end a pregnancy,” reports the New York Times.
The bill bans abortions at every stage of a pregnancy -including cases of rape and incest- unless the life of the mother is in serious jeopardy. Doctors who perform the procedure could face nearly 100 years in prison.
“The House approved the measure — the most far-reaching effort in the nation this year to curb abortion rights — last month. It now moves to the desk of Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican. Although the governor has not publicly committed to signing the legislation, many Republican lawmakers expect her support,” adds the Times.
The legislation will likely make its way to the Supreme Court; setting the stage for a major legal battle over Roe V. Wade with President Trump’s two judicial appointees now on the bench.
Read the legislation -House Bill 314 The Human Life Protection Act- below:
This bill would make abortion and attempted abortion felony offenses except in cases where abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child’s mother.
This bill would provide that a woman who receives an abortion will not be held criminally
culpable or civilly liable for receiving the abortion.
Relating to abortion; to make abortion and attempted abortion felony offenses except in cases where abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child’s mother; to provide that a woman who receives an abortion will not be held criminally culpable or civilly liable for receiving the abortion; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.
DEVELOPING: Governor Gavin Newsom Tells ‘Women Seeking Abortions’ to Come to California
Far-left Governor Gavin Newsom “welcomed women seeking abortions” to visit California Friday after Louisiana became the latest conservative state to pass pro-life legislation that limits abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
“Newsom signed Friday what he calls a ‘Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom.’ He says it reaffirms the state’s commitment to protecting women’s reproductive choices, educates Californians about their rights to reproductive freedom, and welcomes women to the state to exercise that right,” reports CBS Sacramento.
“Among other things, the proclamation talks about reproductive services already available to California women, including state-funded abortion services for low-income women,” adds the article.
Newsom’s full proclamation can be found here.
In addition, the Governor joined the leaders of Washington and Oregon and released a joint statement calling for the codification of “reproductive freedom” laws.
“In the absence of federal leadership on this issue, states must step up and put in place their own protections – both in statute and in their state constitutions, and through the expansion of family planning and education – to defend every American’s right to reproductive freedom,” write California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee. “Roe is settled law, but newly enacted and clearly unconstitutional laws in a handful of states compel our states to act now to reaffirm longstanding commitments to safeguard the fundamental rights of women.”
“In California, the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose to obtain an abortion is the official public policy of the State, protected in both our constitution and by statute. And today, we issued a California Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom, reaffirming our commitment to protecting women’s reproductive choices, educating Californians about their rights to reproductive freedom, welcoming women to California to fully exercise their reproductive rights, and acting as a model for other states that want to ensure full reproductive freedom for women,” adds the letter.
Read the full report at CBS Sacramento.
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