By Daniel Stefanski |
A majority of Republicans in Arizona’s Legislature held the line Wednesday to preserve the state’s near abortion ban.
On Wednesday morning, the Arizona House of Representatives gaveled into session for the first time this week, giving a coalition of members the opportunity to repeal a broad abortion ban that the State Supreme Court had reinstated earlier this month.
Since the Arizona Supreme Court’s historic opinion on the statute, Democrats and some Republicans have sought to repeal the 1864 abortion policy, which has been ratified by the state legislature several times, including in a 2022 bill that established a 15-week abortion ban before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. A coalition attempted to call up a proposal, HB 2677, from Democrat State Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, which would repeal the law. Members did not have a chance to vote on the bill due to a chaotic scene on the floor, that included a successful motion to recess and adjourn for the week.
Stahl Hamilton wasted little time on Wednesday in trying to call up her bill for consideration, but was thwarted by a point of order from Republican State Representative Jacqueline Parker, who highlighted a rule of the chamber giving the Speaker veto power over these procedures. Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham asked Speaker Ben Toma for his decision, and Toma exercised his right to veto Stahl Hamilton’s request. After a couple of split procedural votes to override the Speaker’s action, which Republican Representative Matthew Gress joined with Democrats, the House recessed without any progress in repealing the near abortion ban.
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs reacted to the latest from the State House, expressing her outrage over the inability to repeal the near abortion ban. She wrote, “Extremist Republicans in the Legislature have failed again to do the right thing. In just one week living under this new reality, women, doctors, and healthcare providers have already begun to feel the devastating effects of living under a total abortion ban. We cannot go on like this.”
Hobbs added, “I will continue to call on the Legislature to do its job and repeal this law. In the meantime, I remain committed to protecting the freedoms of every single Arizonan, and I am working to make sure women are able to access the care they need.”
A Republican running for State Representative pointed out that, unlike Hobbs’ claim that effects were already being felt, the law was not even in effect yet, due to instructions from the Arizona Supreme Court.
The Arizona Senate gaveled into its session in the afternoon and experienced a surprise action from Democrats, who, led by Senator Anna Hernandez, gained recognition for a motion to introduce a bill after the designated legislative deadline. Two Republicans joined with all Democrats to support Hernandez’s motion, which allows the chamber to fast-track a repeal of the controversial abortion law.
Both chambers adjourned for the week, leaving the near abortion ban intact through the weekend at least. If the abortion law in question is repealed, the state would likely revert to the recent 15-week abortion limit passed by lawmakers in 2022, marking the first time in the state’s history that the Arizona Legislature “affirmatively created a right to, or independently authorized, elective abortion” – as pointed out by the State Supreme Court in its opinion last week. That limit is sure to be expanded with a constitutional amendment that is likely to make the November General Election ballot.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
