Indiana Legislature first to approve abortion ban post-Roe

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Statehouse

Indiana’s Legislature became the first in the nation Friday to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it.

Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling in June that overturned constitutional protections for the procedure. It is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state.

The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.

The Senate approved the near-total ban 28-19, hours after House members advanced it 62-38.

It includes limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother. The exceptions for rape and incest are limited to 10 weeks post-fertilization, meaning victims could not get an abortion in Indiana after that. Victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack.

Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation “makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.”

Outside the House chamber, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers’ remarks, carrying signs like “Roe roe roe your vote” and “Build this wall” between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink “Bans Off Our Bodies” T-shirts.

The House added exceptions for protecting the health and life of the mother after repeated requests from doctors and others. It also allows abortions if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly.

Indiana lawmakers listened to hours of testimony over the past two weeks in which residents on all sides of the issue rarely, if ever, supported the legislation. Abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far, while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesn’t go far enough.

The House also rejected, largely on party lines, a Democratic proposal to place a non-binding question on the statewide November election ballot: “Shall abortion remain legal in Indiana?”

The proposal came after Kansas voters resoundingly rejected a measure that would have allowed the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion in the first test of voters’ feelings about the issue since Roe was overturned.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters that if residents are unhappy, they can vote for new lawmakers.

“Ultimately it’s up to the Senate,” he said. “Voters have an opportunity to vote, and if they’re displeased, they’ll have an opportunity both in November and in future years.”

Indiana’s proposed ban also came after the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohio’s “fetal heartbeat” ban.

Democratic Rep. Maureen Bauer spoke tearfully before Friday’s vote about people in her South Bend district who oppose the bill—the husbands standing behind their wives, the fathers supporting their daughters—as well as the women “who are demanding that we are seen as equal.”

Bauer’s comments were followed by raucous cheers from protesters in the hallway and subdued applause from fellow Democrats.

“You may not have thought that these women would show up,” Bauer said. “Maybe you thought we wouldn’t be paying attention.”

West Virginia legislators on July 29 passed up the chance to be the first state with a unified ban after its House of Delegates refused to concur with Senate amendments that removed criminal penalties for physicians who perform illegal abortions. Delegates instead asked for a conference committee to consider the details between the bills.

The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost.

Religion was a persistent theme during the special session, both in residents’ testimony and lawmakers’ comments.

In advocating against the bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned her fellow Republicans calling women who obtained abortions “murderers.”

“I think that the Lord’s promise is for grace and kindness,” she said. “He would not be jumping to condemn these women.”

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18 thoughts on “Indiana Legislature first to approve abortion ban post-Roe

    1. Yes, Clark; “it” begins: Responsible adults defending the Right to Life of those innocents who cannot speak for themselves, because these adults know that without the right to be alive, all the other rights you and I enjoy are moot points. Good to see you are on board!

    1. Well, I plan to, and told him as much in an email I sent more than a week ago. I’m not a fan of his anyway. This just seals it.

    2. ‘Way to go, girls; just vote out all those who defended the most primary right you enjoy; the Right to Life. Hows selfish of you; you should be ashamed of yourselves…but “shame” isn’t a word in the current-day liberal lexicon, is it? Look it up in an old dictionary.

    3. I don’t know, Bob. If on the baby’s birthday she’s a girl she gets to be born in a state where the government owns her womb. Maybe life here isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

    4. Bob P. doesn’t think the state should mandate masks and vaccines to save lives, but that it is perfectly okay for it to force women to give birth. Mind boggling…

    5. Selfish is claiming to be pro-life and mandating women give birth, only to not care one whit about the mother or the child after birth.

      In a state, Indiana, that ranks 30th in its percentage of insured women; 41st in maternal mortality; 39th in infant mortality, and 28th in child poverty. None of those show a commitment to life, and a reminder that “pro-life” Republicans have controlled Indiana government the entire time and passed multiple tax cuts.

      We needed to spend way more than $55 million, Bob.

    6. Bingo Todd, you finally caught the car you have been chasing and you got ran over, campaign promises of pro life are in your rear view mirror.

      But post birth abortion or no abortion on the ballot let We the People decide like Kansas, instead of a bunch of for hire outsiders.

      And don’t throw you <1% tail wagging the dog issues out there. The medical community already has all the tools to protect the mother.

  1. Time to drain the swamp. Womens bodies are not the concern of the community, but that individuals home. Smoking ban, yes. Mask mandate, yes. Gun reform, yes. Medical advise to womens bodies, NO.

    1. Should women have the right to chose if they are vaccinated or not? Most liberals would say no…..Women must get vaccinated.

  2. Bingo Todd, you finally caught the car you have been chasing and you got ran over, campaign promises of pro life are in your rear view mirror.

    But post birth abortion or no abortion on the ballot let We the People decide like Kansas, instead of a bunch of for hire outsiders.

    And don’t throw you <1% tail wagging the dog issues out there. The medical community already has all the tools to protect the mother.

  3. I guess my next gynecological exam will be done in my representatives office. And Tod Huston is absolutely right…ladies and gents…let’s show this male dominated ultra/conservative congress how strong we are by voting in November…I’m not saying vote straight Republican or Democrat, but see what they have done as part of their record. You can get the information as to how they voted on issues that matter to you. One more issue…if this “ProLife” group determined how sacred life is, why did they determine that permits are not necessary for guns? Very confusing…almost seems like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

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