INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana legislature on Friday became the first in the nation to pass new legislation restricting abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. The measure now falls to the Republican governor.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana legislature on Friday became the first in the nation to pass new legislation restricting abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
The measure now goes to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it.
Indiana was among the first Republican-led state legislatures to debate tougher abortion laws after the Supreme Court’s ruling in June that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. It’s the first state to pass a ban by both houses, after West Virginia lawmakers passed on July 29 the chance to be that state.
The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans grapple with some party splits and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s previous story follows below.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana House voted Friday to ban nearly all abortions in the state, sending the legislation back to the state Senate to confer changes on the House.
House members advanced a near total ban on abortion 62-38 with limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother.
If the Senate approves the bill as is, Indiana lawmakers will become the first in the country to pass new legislation restricting abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling that reversed the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade who legalized the procedure nationwide. . The measure would then fall to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb, who did not indicate whether he would sign it.
Republican Representative Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the bill, told reporters after the vote that the legislation “makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the country.”
Outside the House chamber, abortion rights activists often chanted remarks by lawmakers, carrying signs such as “Roe roe roe your vote” and “Build this wall” between the Church and the ‘State. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink “Bans Off Our Bodies” T-shirts.
The House version of the ban added exceptions to protect the mother’s health and life after repeated requests from doctors and others. It also allows abortions if a fetus is diagnosed with a fatal abnormality.
The bill removes Senate-approved time limits based on a patient’s age for abortions in cases of rape or incest. Instead, it creates a blanket ban after 10 weeks post fertilization on rape and incest abortions. Victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack.
Friday’s vote came about a week after the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly passed its ban. Senators could consider the abortion ban approved by the House on Friday afternoon, when more changes are possible.
House and Senate lawmakers have listened to hours of testimony over the past two weeks in which residents on all sides of the issue have rarely, if ever, supported the legislation. Abortion-rights supporters said the bill went too far, while anti-abortion activists said it didn’t go far enough.
The House also rejected, largely along party lines, a Democratic proposal to place a nonbinding question on the ballot in the statewide November election: “Will abortion remain legal? in Indiana?”
The proposal came after Kansas voters vehemently rejected a measure that would have allowed the state’s Republican-controlled legislature to tighten abortion in the first test of voters’ feelings on the issue since Roe first been knocked down.
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters that if residents are unhappy, they can vote for new lawmakers.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to the Senate,” he said. “Voters have the opportunity to vote, and if they are unhappy, they will have the opportunity both in November and in the years to come.”
Indiana’s proposed ban also came after the political storm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to terminate her pregnancy. The case drew attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child had come to Indiana because of Ohio’s “fetal heartbeat” ban.
Democratic Rep. Maureen Bauer spoke tearfully ahead of Friday’s vote of residents in her South Bend district who oppose the bill — husbands standing behind their wives, fathers supporting their daughters — as well as wives.” that demand that we be seen as equals.”
Bauer’s comments were followed by loud cheers from protesters in the hallway and subdued applause from fellow Democrats.
“You may not have thought these women would show up,” Bauer said. “Maybe you thought we wouldn’t be careful.”
On July 29, West Virginia lawmakers passed up the chance to be the first state with a unified ban after its House of Delegates refused to approve Senate amendments that removed criminal penalties for practicing physicians. illegal abortions. Delegates instead asked a conference committee to review the details between the bills.
The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans grapple with party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.
The Indiana House vote further illustrated a deeply divided house, which once rejected an amendment that would have removed the rape and incest exceptions. Most GOP members wanted them removed, though ultimately most voted for the bill. The House vote and lawmakers’ discussions displayed a divide similar to that seen in the Senate on those same exceptions.
Nine Republicans — including Rep. John Jacob, who had called for those exceptions to be removed — joined 29 Democrats in voting against the bill.
“There is forgiveness for the sin of abortion,” Jacob said Friday.
Religion was a persistent theme during the special session, both in testimonials from residents and in comments from lawmakers.
In arguing against the bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned her fellow Republicans by calling women who got abortions “murderers.”
“I think the Lord’s promise is for grace and goodness,” she said. “He wouldn’t jump to convict these women.”
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Arleigh Rodgers is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places reporters in local newsrooms to report on underreported issues. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers
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Find AP’s full coverage of the overthrow of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion
Arleigh Rodgers, The Associated Press
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