Would allow abortion up until birth
By Dave Andrusko
Near the end of his January 18 inaugural speech, Wes Moore, the first African-American governor of Maryland, said that his ascension represents “An opportunity to lead with love. An opportunity to create with compassion. An opportunity to fight fearlessly for our future.”
Less than a month later, Gov. Moore announced his support for a state constitutional amendment that would “protect abortion rights.” So much for the “future.”
It was touted as a “new healthcare package focused on reproduction rights in Maryland.” If it passes in the legislature—pro-abortion Democrats enjoyed super majorities in both houses— this measure will then be decided by voters in 2024. It will require a three-fifth vote in the legislature.
Moore, a Democrat, was joined at a press conference today by state House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson, both Democrats, both pro-abortion.
Moore “demonstrated his support for abortion rights soon after taking office last month, when he announced on his second day in office that he was releasing $3.5 million in state funds to expand abortion training, money that had been withheld by his predecessor, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan,” the Associated Press reported.
“We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: Maryland needs to be a state that is a safe haven for abortion rights,” Moore said when he announced the release of the money
Delegate Kelly is one of the co-sponsors of House Bill 705.
“The reason we’re doing this is because, unfortunately, our constitutional rights were rolled back by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Kelly said. “We no longer have constitutional protections to this. It’s very important we take a stand and pass this legislation this year, as well as a number of other bills we’re looking at to expand reproductive rights in Maryland.”
As Fox News pointed out, Maryland law already “protects” abortion. “The state approved legislation in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court allowed abortion to be restricted. The Maryland law was petitioned to the ballot and voters approved the right in 1992 with 62% of the vote.
Maryland law “allows nurse practitioners and midwives to abort unborn babies and allows underage girls to get abortions without their parents’ knowledge or consent.
The “reproductive rights” package also includes “measure that would protect patients and providers in Maryland from criminal, civil and administrative penalties relating to abortion bans or restrictions in other states.”