Louisiana almost certain to pass anti-abortion measures this week, but it ‘all depends on the courts’
Republican
Also on tap for a final vote next week in the
With bipartisan support
"Abortion is still legal in
Patients have been calling the clinics to inquire whether abortion is still legal and whether they'll be able to come in for appointments, Caldwell said -- a "direct result" of restrictive abortion legislation and national media attention on them.
Playing the long game
Galvanized by the prospect that President
But bills like "fetal heartbeat" are aimed at making abortions more difficult to obtain, rather than banning the practice outright.
Advocacy groups and clinics swiftly filed lawsuits blocking the laws.
During his recent call-in radio show, "Ask the Governor," Edwards fielded several questions about his stance on the proposed "fetal heartbeat" legislation, Senate Bill 184.
"It is my expectation the bill will come to my desk and I will sign it," he said. "That is consistent with my position on these issues, really for a lifetime, but in eight years as a legislator and four years as governor."
Edwards also noted the courts will have the last say.
"There's no reason for us to spend our resources right now," Louisiana Solicitor General
One of the challenges is to a 2014 Louisiana law.
It's just one of many laws restricting access to the clinics.
Already, unless a woman lives near the state's three largest cities, they must drive sometimes hours to get the mandatory counseling, then the procedure 24 hours later, said
"As we've said for many years now these restrictions impede access," Irvin said. "For many women they impose too much of a burden."
Other lawsuits have challenged a mandatory three-day waiting period for getting abortions and a decision by former Gov.
"Here we go again," wrote U.S. District Judge
Reeves was nominated by Democratic President
Clapper argues it should be a "state's choice" to offer access to abortion. If Roe v Wade is overturned, the state already has a 2006 law on the books that would ban abortions.
The constitutional amendment -- House Bill 425, which is up for a final vote on Wednesday -- is "first and foremost a statement of principle," Clapper said. The amendment would say the state
The amendment, if approved by voters this fall, would short circuit court arguments that because the
Drawing backlash
Even as state lawmakers overwhelmingly approve abortion restrictions, not everyone agrees.
On the corner of
"We know that Roe v Wade was not the beginning of abortion in America, and we know the end of Roe v Wade will not be the end of abortion in
Abortion rights advocates have also held several protests at the State Capitol in
House Bill 484 by state Rep.
"Every year more restrictions are added and it's certainly what has caused the clinics to dwindle to only three," Schilling said. The number of clinics dropped from seven a decade ago and the number of abortions decreased from 10,211 in 2014 to 8,076 in 2017, according the
Political conundrum
But in
His position is squarely at odds with his national party's approach to abortion rights.
But Edwards is not out-of-step with many
The "fetal heartbeat" bill is being carried by state Sen.
When asked whether the national outcry against anti-abortion efforts in
The only incumbent Democratic governor in the Deep South, Edwards is running for re-election this year against Congressman
Advocate staff writer
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