Florida Republican lawmakers propose a six-week abortion ban
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[March 08, 2023]
By Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax
(Reuters) -Republican lawmakers in Florida filed bills on Tuesday to
outlaw most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a ban that would
severely undercut access to the procedure in the U.S. South if passed by
the state's Republican-controlled legislature.
The bills, filed on the opening day of the legislature's 2023 regular
session, make exceptions for rape and incest cases but not explicitly
for the life or health of the pregnant person.
Florida Republicans, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have signaled
their wish to further curtail abortions in the state after last year
approving a ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape
or incest.
Patients have been traveling to Florida from across the U.S. Southeast
to end their pregnancies since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade last year, gutting federal abortion rights. More than a dozen
states have banned the procedure almost entirely since that landmark
ruling.
Data from Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration showed that
the number of out-of-state abortion patients rose 38% in 2022 compared
to 2021.
DeSantis, who is expected to challenge former President Donald Trump for
the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, told reporters on
Tuesday that he supported "pro-life legislation" when asked about the
new bills. He has previously said he would sign an abortion ban as early
as six weeks.
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Anti-abortion rights activists stand
outside of the Bread and Roses Woman's Health Center, a clinic that
provides abortions while women arrive to receive patient care in
Clearwater, Florida, U.S. February 11, 2023. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
DeSantis said he thought the rape
and incest exceptions in the bills were "sensible."
Abortion rights advocates and Democrats, including White House
spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, spoke out on Tuesday against the
new bills, which would ban abortion before many women know they are
pregnant.
"As with all abortion bans, this bill will prevent people from
accessing essential healthcare and take away people's power over
their own bodies, their lives, and their futures," Laura Goodhue,
executive director of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood
Affiliates, said in a statement.
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen
Jenkins and Richard Chang)
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