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Kentucky legislature denies governor’s veto on abortion ban

FRANKFORT, Ky. New abortion restrictions passed by Republican lawmakers ahead of a Democratic governor’s veto will force the only two abortion clinics in Kentucky to stop offering procedures to women, at least. is temporary, while the new law is challenged in court, abortion rights activists said Wednesday.

Activists said the law would bring immediate federal lawsuits, and lawyers for the clinics would seek a ruling to block the measure allowing the clinics to continue abortions while the case is heard. sued, activists said. The two abortion clinics in Kentucky are located in Louisville, the state’s largest city.

Shortly after the GOP-led legislature completed Governor Andy Beshear’s veto, activists said the clinics would not be able to comply with the new restrictions because the state had not yet established a regulatory process. Obligatory. The measure took effect immediately.

Abortion rights groups said in a press release: “Because the law could not be followed, it was seen as a de facto ban on abortion, thereby infringing on patients’ federal rights. abortion under Roe v. Wade.

Abortion rights advocates’ chants echoed through Kentucky’s Capitol as the legislature overturned the governor’s veto. The bill calls for regulation of the distribution of abortion pills, the groups said, but the state has yet to establish a registration process. It will require women to be examined in person by a doctor before receiving the drug.

That portion of the bill is part of an effort by anti-abortion groups across the country to limit the ability of doctors to prescribe abortion pills using telemedicine, and in response to increased use of the drug instead. surgery to end a pregnancy early.

About half of all abortions performed in Kentucky are the result of medication procedures.

Abortion rights groups say the measure also requires new reporting requirements that violate patient privacy.

Another key piece of the bill bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Kentucky law currently prohibits abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The proposed 15-week ban is based on a Mississippi law that the Supreme Court is considering in a case that could significantly limit abortion rights. By taking preemptive action, supporters of the bill say Kentucky’s stricter ban would apply if the Mississippi law was upheld.

About two dozen abortion rights advocates chanted “ban our bodies” from downstairs to the Kentucky House room early Wednesday as lawmakers debated the abortion measure. Lawmakers on both sides of the debate mentioned the protesters, who could hear their voices in the room as the emotional debate continued.

“It makes me sick to listen to what’s going on out there,” said Republican Representative Norma Kirk-McCormick.

The House of Representatives rejected Governor Andy Beshear’s veto by 76-21 votes. That sent the measure to the Senate for a final vote. Republicans have a supermajority in both houses. Protesters moved to the other side of the Capitol on Wednesday night and chanted as the Senate debated the measure. The Senate rejected the veto in the June 31 vote.

Opponents also condemned the bill for failing to rule out pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.

“Those are violent crimes,” said Democratic Representative Rachel Roberts. “This bill forces those women to be violated again.”

To promote surrogacy, Kirk-McCormick said: “Aborting a child is clearly wrong. And I pray that God will have mercy on anyone who can take the life of a child. There is no mercy for that child in the abortion. “

Strict limits on abortion aren’t the only social issues legislation put forward by Republican lawmakers in a frenzied veto. They also used much of their blunder to complete a Beshear veto on the attempt to ban transgender athletes from sport. The dominant votes were won by a wide margin in both chambers against opposition from opponents.

“This measure is discriminatory in finding children,” said Representative Josie Raymond.

The measure would ban transgender girls and women from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity from sixth grade through college. Advocates say it will ensure girls and women compete with other “biological women”.

Republican Senator Donald Douglas said: “Athletes want a level playing field. “They don’t care about all these other social things.”

Republican-led states are increasingly imposing such bans on transgender girls or women, although cultural war-related bans have been challenged in some states because of violations violate federal law. Opponents of the Kentucky measure predict the measure will also have to go to court.

“The fight won’t stop here,” said Chris Hartman, executive director of the Equity Campaign.

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