Maine lawmakers last week rejected an attempt to enshrine the “right” to abortion in the state’s constitution.
The “Protect Personal Reproductive Autonomy” amendment, which was introduced by Sen. Eloise Vitelli and co-sponsored by Rep. Sophia Warren, said the state “may not deny or infringe on the right to personal reproductive autonomy,” unless the denial or infringement “is justified by a compelling state interest” and “is accomplished using the means that least denies or infringes” on that “right.”
The amendment needed a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate in order to go before voters as a ballot measure in November. Though it passed 75-65 in the House and 20-13 in the Senate, it failed to garner the majority necessary; every Republican voted against the measure.
“The 14th amendment prohibits states from depriving any person of life,” said Rep. Regan Paul, who opposed the amendment. “Therefore, Mainers are afforded the constitutional right to life, not the right to take life. Those who take their oath seriously voted against this measure.”
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Catholic Bishop Robert Deeley of Portland strongly condemned the proposed amendment earlier this year. “This is a political attempt to distract from the heinous law passed last June that eliminated any restrictions for abortion,” Deeley said. “A change to the constitution to promote abortion on demand will affect unborn children who cannot speak for themselves but will suffer the ultimate price.”
Planned Parenthood has vowed not to give up in its quest to expand abortion. “Last night’s vote was infuriating and shameful, but it will galvanize Mainers from all corners of the state,” said Lisa Margulies of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. “Now we know where every elected official in the House stands on reproductive rights.”
Though the measure failed, Maine continues to have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation; last July, pro-abortion Governor Janet Mills signed legislation allowing the killing of preborn children at any stage through all nine months of pregnancy.
