Abortion access is poised to take center stage in Democrats’ campaign to beat Republicans on the ballot in November after the state’s strict abortion law took effect.
Thursday on Political Rewind: Yesterday, a federal appeals court allowed Georgia House Bill 481 to take effect immediately, restricting abortion access after around six weeks with few exceptions. Our panel breaks down the ruling, the political implications, and the future of abortion access in Georgia.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed Georgia's House Bill 481 into law in 2019. The legislation remains tied up in federal courts, but in the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, HB 481's ban after six weeks gestation has abortion providers— and women from Georgia and neighboring states — bracing for a new plan of care.
Even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, whether a health plan paid for abortion varied widely. Now it's become even more complex, with conflicts and court challenges on the horizon.
Montana is an island of legal abortion, but four of the state's five clinics now restrict abortion pills from people in states with trigger bans to shield themselves and patients from legal attacks.
Major companies like Nike and Tesla say they plan to assist employees who live in places where abortion is restricted to travel for the procedure. But several potential pitfalls abound.
With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Minnesota will be one of the states where abortion remains legally protected. But legal doesn't necessarily mean accessible, advocates warn.
Physicians must treat in line with patients' wishes and standards of care. Some medical ethicists say that abortion bans will force doctors to disregard these obligations in order to follow the law.
If abortion bans are enacted, millions would be forced to travel to less restrictive states, and some health providers are warning they may not be able to handle the surge in demand.
A Georgia representative wants Congress to condemn attempts to criminally prosecute people who perform abortions or women who have abortions or experience miscarriages. Rep. Nikema Willams is introducing her House resolution on Thursday.