Last Wednesday, Arizonian red lawmakers failed to approve SB1457, an abortion bill that would, if it had passed, made it a felony for doctors to terminate pregnancies in instances where a fetus has genetic abnormalities.
The vote was 16-14 in not letting the bill go through. All democrats are opposed to anti-abortion measures, and even though Republicans have a one-vote majority in both chambers, that single vote is enough for legislation to fail.
Only one Republican, Senator Tyler Pace, voted against the bill. While the Senator claimed that he is against abortion, he stated that he is also against the bill because it would let juries make medical choices, based on the physician’s decision.
Pace further claimed that the “reasonable medical judgement” of a doctor cannot be overturned and outweighed and by a jury. “Asking a panel of lay individuals” to decide on medical issues is “a large reach.”
Cathi Herrod, the Policy President of the Center for Arizona Policy stated that she would keep pushing the legislation, despite her disappointment in the first outcome.
A previous iteration of the bill included a ban on universities training doctors on abortions. This same Bill was supposed to repeal a law that allows for women being charged on seeking abortions, as well as having fetal remains being buried or cremated. It was also supposed to forbid state universities from providing abortion care.
Another bill, HB2140, was supposed to prevent an abortion procedure if a heartbeat can be heard. This would prevent most abortions, since a heartbeat as early as six weeks. However,r this bill, tougher than SB1457, is not moving forward, due to constitutional issues.
