In response to Arizona’s restrictive abortion law, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a proposal on Wednesday to allow Arizona doctors to provide abortions to their patients in California through the end of November. This proposal aims to circumvent Arizona’s 1864 law, which prohibits nearly all abortions except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger, and is set to take effect on June 8th.
Newsom’s announcement is part of his ongoing efforts to defend abortion rights and ensure access to abortion care. He has previously pushed for abortion access to be enshrined into the California Constitution, approved funding to help women from other states come to California for abortions, and signed laws to make it harder for other states to investigate women for coming to California for abortions.
The proposal announced by Newsom would only apply to doctors licensed in good standing in Arizona and their patients. It is a temporary measure that would last only through the end of November.
Newsom has been a vocal critic of Arizona’s abortion ban, calling it “draconian” and “a danger to women.” He has also criticized other states that have passed restrictive abortion laws, and has vowed to make California a sanctuary for women seeking abortion care.
The proposal announced by Newsom has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of abortion rights have praised the move, while opponents have criticized it as an overreach of executive authority.
Newsom’s proposal is part of a larger effort by California to protect and expand abortion rights in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. California has launched a publicly-funded website to promote the state’s abortion services, and has also passed laws to prevent other states from investigating women for coming to California for abortions.
Newsom’s proposal is likely to face legal challenges, but it is a significant step in the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States.
