Florida lawmakers approve 6-week abortion ban, sending invoice to DeSantis for signature

April 13 (Reuters) – Florida’s Republican-led Home of Representatives on Thursday gave last approval to a six-week abortion ban, setting the stage for abortion entry to be drastically curtailed within the state and throughout the U.S. South.

Lawmakers within the Florida Home accepted the ban on abortions after six weeks of being pregnant in a 70-40 vote. The invoice handed the state Senate by a vote of 26-13 on April 3.

Governor Ron DeSantis is anticipated to signal the laws, which makes exceptions for abortions in instances of rape, incest and when the mom’s life or well being are at critical danger.

The Republican governor signed the state’s present 15-week ban into legislation final yr and has mentioned he helps additional limits.

Backing extra extreme restrictions may carry political dangers for DeSantis, who is anticipated to hunt the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

Abortion has emerged as a potent political difficulty within the U.S. because the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade final yr, with polls displaying that assist for abortion rights helped Democrats outperform Republicans in November’s midterm elections.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll accomplished on Wednesday discovered that about 50% of Individuals strongly or considerably oppose a nationwide six-week abortion ban, together with 44% of Republicans. The identical ballot confirmed that 43% of Republicans mentioned they have been much less prone to vote for a politician who helps limiting entry to abortion.

“The ban flies within the face of basic freedoms and is out of step with the views of the overwhelming majority of the folks of Florida and of all the US,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned in a press release.

Debate over the Florida measure lasted a number of hours on Thursday. Republican supporters of the invoice mentioned the legislation safeguarded ladies’s well being by making exceptions for harmful pregnancies, and insisted docs shouldn’t hesitate to carry out life-saving abortions because the legislation permits.

“We’ve got the chance to guide the nationwide debate in regards to the significance of defending life and giving each baby the chance to be born,” mentioned Republican Consultant Jenna Individuals-Mulicka, a sponsor of the invoice.

Democrats mentioned the invoice would hurt ladies and that Republicans have been prioritizing their spiritual beliefs and political acquire over the well being of their constituents.

“We’re propping up a political agenda on the backs of ladies and birthing folks,” mentioned Democratic Consultant Michele Rayner-Goolsby.

The destiny of the ban will rely upon the result of a courtroom problem to the state’s 15-week abortion ban, which abortion suppliers have argued violates the state constitutional proper to privateness.

If the Florida Supreme Courtroom guidelines that the 15-week ban is constitutional, the six-week ban would take impact 30 days later.

Sufferers from throughout the U.S. Southeast have been touring to Florida to finish their pregnancies because the U.S. Supreme Courtroom gutted federal abortion rights. Most different states within the area have already banned the process at early phases of being pregnant.

“It would flip Florida from one of many Southeast’s final entry factors for abortion to at least one that severely limits care,” Alexandra Mandado, president and CEO of Deliberate Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, mentioned of the ban.

Reporting by Gabriella Borter

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.