California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday that a bill will be introduced this week by state lawmakers to provide support for women who travel from Arizona to California for abortion services. This action is a direct response to the implementation of highly stringent abortion regulations in Arizona, which are among the strictest in the nation.
An 1864 abortion law in Arizona, which was recently enforced by a decision from the Arizona Supreme Court, has effectively restricted access to the procedure in almost all situations since May 1. Although national Republicans have urged for the replacement of this law with a less stringent alternative, state lawmakers have consistently rejected efforts to overturn it.
“It makes you feel disgusted,” Newsom expressed his strong disapproval of the Arizona law in an MSNBC interview with Jen Psaki on Sunday.
In a scathing statement, the speaker expressed his disbelief at the recent celebration of a ban that dates all the way back to 1864 in Arizona. He questioned the Republican Party’s intentions, stating that he believed they aimed to bring about progress and innovation in the 21st century, but now it seemed like they were attempting to turn back the clock and recreate the conditions of the 19th century.
The proposed “emergency legislation” aims to expedite the approval process for Arizona abortion providers to operate in California, enabling them to seamlessly continue their crucial work in the neighboring state.
Governor Newsom did not provide specific details regarding the timing of the bill’s introduction or his strategy for guiding it through the Legislature before the summer recess.
According to the governor’s office, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) played a crucial role in initiating the effort.
The office stated to The Hill that Arizona AG Kris Mayes recognized the importance of enabling Arizona abortion providers to offer care to their residents who seek abortion services in California. They are committed to addressing this need and will provide further information in the near future.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who serves as a surrogate for President Biden’s reelection campaign, highlighted the increasing attention on Arizona due to the significance of abortion rights in the upcoming November election.
According to the speaker, the initiative aims to concentrate on Arizona and Nevada from an electoral standpoint, as these states are expected to have a significant impact on the outcome of the election.
Abortion ballot measures are set to be included in the November ballot in Arizona, along with several other states. Notably, the swing state of Nevada is also pursuing similar ballot measures. These initiatives have proven advantageous for Democrats in recent elections, with gubernatorial wins in traditionally Republican strongholds like Kansas and Kentucky.
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