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Indiana lawmakers approved a near-total abortion ban Friday, making the state the first in the nation to pass sweeping restrictions on access to the procedure after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
The Republican-dominated state Senate passed the legislation on a 28-19 vote, dividing GOP lawmakers on how far the ban should go. Before Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed the bill into law on Friday, some GOP members expressed support for allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest, while others opposed the bill because of those exceptions.
The measure, which will take effect on September 15, allows abortion only in cases of rape, incest, a lethal fetal abnormality or when the procedure is necessary to prevent serious risks to health or death. Here’s what some government officials had to say about the ban:
“The body inside the mother’s body is not her body. Let me repeat that: the body inside the mother’s body is not her body. Not her body, not her choice,” said Jacob, a a staunch opponent of abortion who supported removing exemptions, including for rape.
“The attempt to end all abortion is not a forced birth, but rather an attempt to end the killing of children,” he said on the floor.
“Sir, I am not a murderer. And my sisters aren’t killers either,” she said.
Pak told the chamber that she had an abortion in 1990 while serving in the military, according to the Indianapolis Star. “We are pro-choice. This is who we are,” she added. “We believe we are in control of our own bodies.”
“I think we’ve landed on a great place and good policy for the state of Indiana,” said McNamara, who sponsored the House bill. She told reporters that the ban “makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.”
Indiana passed a near-total abortion ban, the first state to do so since Roe
Bohacek, who voted against the bill, was unable to finish her testimony as she spoke about her daughter, who has Down syndrome, and her concerns about protecting disabled rape victims. “If she loses her favorite stuffed animal, she is inconsolable,” he said. “Imagine making her carry a child to term,” he said before choking up and pulling away.
Pryor mentioned the recent case of a 10-year-old rape victim who had to travel to Indiana for the procedure because abortions are already banned in Ohio after six weeks. “I just don’t understand why we would force a baby, really 10, to have a baby,” Pryor said.
“By closing abortion clinics and limiting abortions to only the most heartbreaking cases, we are making tremendous progress for the pro-life movement,” said Leising, who called Friday a “monumental day,” according to WRTV in Indianapolis. She said the ban should be “combined with increased funding aimed at pregnancy services and easing the financial burden of adoption”.
“Eight of us in this room have once had the opportunity to get pregnant, but we’re about to tell millions of Hoosier women what they can do with their bodies,” she said.
Brough described the legislation as a violation of democracy, “Women should have the right to make these decisions in consultation with their doctors, not their state legislators,” she tweeted.
Vermilion blasted fellow Republicans for describing women who have abortions as murderers. “I think the Lord’s promise is about grace and kindness,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “He wouldn’t jump to condemn these women.”
“After the rejection of Roe, I made it clear that I would be prepared to support legislation that made progress in protecting life,” he said in a statement. After days of hearings and testimony, he said the legislation “and its carefully negotiated exemptions” addressed “some of the unimaginable circumstances that a woman or an unborn child could face.”
“I am personally most proud of every Hoosier who has come forward to boldly share their views in a debate that is unlikely to stop anytime soon,” Holcomb added.
Amy Cheng and Kim Belware contributed to this report.
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