Pro-life Democrats enthusiastically greeted the many progressive components in the Women's Equality Act described by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State address, in areas such as family status discrimination, workplace sexual harassment and human trafficking. We were dismayed, however, at his inclusion of extremist measures that would promote abortion while repealing some existing protections for pregnant women.
The so-called Reproductive Health Act would allow abortions beyond 24 weeks, even when the life of the mother is not at risk, and would remove heightened penalties for assault on a pregnant woman resulting in the death of her unborn child. It also defines "viability" to apply to a late-term fetus only if he or she can survive outside the uterus "without application of extraordinary medical measures" — and because most preemies need such special care, they could be aborted without any protections based on their actual viability.
The bill's supporters suggest that the Reproductive Health Act simply codifies existing federal law. In reality, however, the governor's proposal would lock in a scheme that goes beyond Supreme Court holdings and, on the other hand, fails to include some federal restrictions such as the Hyde Amendment, which ensures that Medicaid funds are not spent on abortion, and conscience provisions in various statutes that protect individuals and entities from being forced to participate in abortion services.
The Reproductive Health Act is a pro-abortion bill, a one-way ratchet that will result in even more abortions in this state, many performed by non-physicians.
One thing is certain — the governor's legislative choice does nothing to help pregnant women except to steer them toward the abortion clinic.
The governor may cast his legislative proposals as championing women, but in reducing funding for programs that actually help pregnant women and new mothers while simultaneously pushing to permanently expand the legal infrastructure of abortion, it is clear that the only choice he is offering is termination.
We urge the Senate and Assembly to look beyond the rhetoric of the Reproductive Health Act and instead offer real support to pregnant women and new mothers.
Pass a Women's Equality Act that is worthy of the name — one without these harmful abortion measures.
Joe Murphy is a member of the New York chapter of Democrats for Life of America (www.democratsforlifeny.org). He lives in Delmar. His email address is joemurphy.law@gmail.com.