Arizona House members on Wednesday voted in favor of repealing an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions, after several Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill.
The vote is the third attempt in three weeks to lift the abortion restriction, since the Arizona Supreme Court ruled earlier this month to uphold the state’s new 15-week abortion limit, a Civil War-era law. NBC News became report.
‘Under increasing pressure’ three Republican state senators, Matt Gress, Tim Gunn and Justin Wilmes, are pushing for a law that would make performing an abortion or helping a woman become a felony, punishable by two to five years in prison. He joined 29 Democratic politicians in repealing it. According to the report.
The House passage comes after state senators voted last week to introduce a bill to repeal the 1864 law. All Democrats were joined by two Republicans in that vote.
“The state Senate will vote on the repeal as early as next Wednesday, after the bill is brought to the floor for ‘third reading,’ as required by parliamentary rules,” the report said. There is a possibility.”
Republican lawmakers who opposed repealing the law reportedly “begged their colleagues” to reject the effort.
“We should not have rushed this bill through the legislative process,” said Republican state House Speaker Ben Thoma. “Instead, today we rush to judgment.”
“I’m heartbroken that you’re all here to witness this,” House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham said before voting against the bill. “I’m proud of the Republican caucus for fighting this battle for so long,” he added.
“It’s disgusting to see how this is being directed at one party and being used as a weaponization of this issue,” he said. Mr. Grantham reportedly stripped Mr. Gress and Assistant Democratic Minority Leader Oscar de los Santos of their committee assignments after the vote.
The 1864 law is scheduled to take effect June 8, but Democratic Attorney General Chris Mays has vowed to find a way to push the date back without enforcing the law. Mays and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) are also working with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to make abortions available to Arizonans in California.
RELATED: Arizona Supreme Court follows the law as Democrats tighten restrictions on abortion up to birth
Some prominent Arizona Republicans have also significantly distanced themselves from the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling, including Senate candidates. Lake Kali And a former governor. Doug Ducey.former president donald trump Said Speaking to reporters, he believes the 1864 law goes too far.
The state Supreme Court’s decision comes as pro-abortion activists advance an amendment that would create a constitutional right to abortion in Arizona.
Arizona is one of at least a dozen states where pro-abortion activists are active. work Codifying the right to kill the unborn child.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her at @thekat_Hamilton.
