All articles tagged with #abortion restrictions
Russia faces a significant demographic crisis with a declining and aging population, prompting government efforts to boost birth rates through various incentives and restrictive laws on abortion and LGBTQ+ activism, amid broader social and economic challenges including war and migration issues.
Texas lawmakers have approved a law allowing private citizens to sue abortion pill providers, making it the first of its kind in the US, as part of the state's broader efforts to restrict abortion access. The law permits lawsuits against manufacturers, doctors, and mailers of abortion-inducing drugs, with potential damages up to $100,000, and aims to enforce Texas's existing abortion bans. The legislation has faced criticism for encouraging vigilantism and targeting out-of-state providers, while supporters claim it protects women and fetuses. The law is expected to be signed by Governor Greg Abbott and will take effect in December, likely sparking legal challenges.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill banning transgender treatment for minors and two bills imposing abortion restrictions, citing concerns about government mandates on a small group of Kansans and trampling parental rights. The vetoed bills sought to outlaw transgender treatment for minors, impose additional abortion restrictions, and criminalize coercion to obtain an abortion. Kelly also referenced privacy intrusion concerns and vague language in the bills as reasons for her decision. This comes amid ongoing debates and legal developments surrounding abortion rights in various states, including a recent ruling in Arizona reverting the state back to a 160-year-old law that outlaws abortions in nearly all circumstances.
Allies of former President Donald Trump are devising sweeping and legally sophisticated plans to restrict abortion rights if he returns to power, including using the long-dormant Comstock Act from 1873 to criminalize the shipping of materials used in abortions. Some of these proposals aim to go beyond a national ban or laws enacted in conservative states, and anti-abortion strategists have been purposefully quiet about their plans due to the political liability the issue has become for Republicans.
Abortion clinics in Ohio are urging a court to strike down abortion restrictions following the passage of a constitutional amendment that enshrines abortion rights in the state's Constitution. The clinics argue that even the state's Republican attorney general acknowledges that the amendment invalidates the ban. The amendment, which ensures access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, took effect last week. The clinics are requesting the lower court to permanently strike down the ban, stating that it violates fundamental rights guaranteed by the Ohio Constitution.
An ABC News investigation highlights the impact of abortion restrictions in America after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The report features the stories of women who faced life-threatening complications during pregnancy but were denied necessary medical care due to state abortion bans. These women, who wanted to continue their pregnancies, were turned away in medical emergencies, had their healthcare delayed or denied, and were forced to continue pregnancies despite devastating diagnoses for their babies. The report sheds light on the confusion and risks faced by women and doctors in the post-Roe era, as well as the legal challenges and lawsuits arising from the cascading bans.
In a three-part investigation by ABC News, women from across the United States share their agonizing experiences of being forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term due to abortion restrictions. These women, who initially wanted their pregnancies, were denied medical care in emergencies, faced delays or denials due to state laws, and were told to continue their pregnancies despite devastating diagnoses for their babies. The cost of accessing care in other states and the limitations of gestational age further compounded their struggles. The emotional trauma and physical toll of carrying nonviable pregnancies have left these women scarred, highlighting the profound impact of post-Roe America.
The final version of the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), is expected to be voted on by Congress next week. The compromise legislation, agreed upon by negotiators from the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate, removes contentious provisions pushed by hard-right lawmakers, such as restrictions on abortion access for U.S. service members. This represents a defeat for the GOP's right flank, with some prominent Republicans denouncing the bill as a "total sell-out of conservative principles." The bill includes a pay raise for military personnel, expands military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and extends support for Ukraine. It also includes an amendment preventing any U.S. president from withdrawing from NATO without congressional approval.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed the "Reproductive Health Act," repealing several abortion restrictions in the state. The act removes regulations for clinics, repeals a law banning referrals for abortion services, and criminalizes doctors who prescribe medication abortion. Whitmer also plans to sign a separate measure eliminating the requirement for private insurance to cover the cost of abortion. However, some restrictions, such as the 24-hour waiting period and the ban on Medicaid funding for abortion, remain in place. Abortion rights advocates celebrated the signing of the act, while opponents criticized it as a danger to women and children.
Republican lawmaker Rep. Nancy Mace warns that GOP lawmakers may be "walking the plank" with voters over their push for abortion restrictions. Mace criticizes her party's "extreme" stances on abortion, particularly regarding victims of rape and incest, and emphasizes the need to address issues such as foster care and child care. She advocates for expanded access to birth control and gynecological care and believes that Republicans could be at risk in moderate districts due to their handling of abortion and other reproductive issues.
A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit challenging West Virginia's restrictions on medication abortion, ruling that the state's near-total abortion ban does not conflict with the FDA's regulation and approval of the drugs. The lawsuit, brought by abortion drug manufacturer GenBioPro, argued that the restrictions violated federal law. While the judge dismissed the challenge to the abortion ban, he allowed the challenge to the state's restriction on the prescription of abortion drugs via telehealth services to continue. Access to medication abortion remains uncertain as several other challenges to the drugs are ongoing.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Governor Ron DeSantis downplayed concerns about the state of his 2024 presidential campaign, despite cuts in staff and stalled polling. DeSantis dismissed the conflict in Ukraine as a "secondary or tertiary interest" and avoided supporting national abortion restrictions similar to the six-week ban he signed in Florida. Concerns have been raised by Republican donors and operatives who believe DeSantis is too focused on the priorities of the most conservative factions in his party. DeSantis also faced criticism for his dismissal of "wokeness" and his recent video criticizing Trump's promise to protect LGBTQ rights. Despite these challenges, DeSantis remains optimistic about his chances of defeating Trump and emphasized his pro-life stance.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has embraced her role as a key player in the Republican presidential race, signing a restrictive abortion measure into law at an event meant to showcase the candidates. Reynolds received a standing ovation from conservative Christians and has gained influence on a national stage. Despite criticism from former President Donald Trump, other presidential candidates, including Ron DeSantis, have defended her. Reynolds has not endorsed any candidate but has been praised for her devotion to the issues she cares about. She plans to stay involved in the campaign and has invited GOP candidates for one-on-one meetings at the state fair in August.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has called for a special legislative session dedicated to enacting "pro-life legislation" after the state's Supreme Court issued a split decision on a six-week abortion ban proposed in 2018. Reynolds plans to convene the session on July 11 and aims to codify harsher abortion restrictions. The outcome of the session could have broader ramifications in national politics, particularly for Republican candidates in the 2024 presidential race. The Iowa Supreme Court's ruling last month failed to reach a majority decision on overturning a lower court's block on the six-week abortion ban.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has called for a special legislative session on July 11th to pass new abortion restrictions after a recent defeat at the Iowa Supreme Court. Reynolds, a Republican, aims to enact legislation that protects unborn lives and addresses abortion. Anti-abortion activists and lawmakers have been pushing for a special session since the Supreme Court deadlocked 3-3 on a major abortion case, permanently blocking a 2018 law that would have banned most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The type of law Republicans will pursue during the special session is unclear, but Democrats have vowed to fight any new restrictions on abortion.