House rejection moves abortion issue to Senate
House lawmakers shot down Gov. Charlie Baker’s attempt to dilute a controversial budget rider expanding abortion access with a veto-proof majority as the measure now moves to the Senate.
In a 49-107 vote on Wednesday, members rejected an amendment by the Republican governor that attempted to block a provision lowering the age of consent to 16, limiting circumstances for abortions after 24 weeks and imposing penalties on doctors found in violation.
“The House today reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to protecting reproductive rights in Massachusetts under threat by changes in the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said in a statement after the vote.
The ROE Act Coalition applauded the move “safeguarding reproductive freedom in the face of antichoice attacks.”
Groton Republican Rep. Sheila Harrington chastised her colleagues as “playing God.” The controversial measure split House support, peeling off 18 Democrats who voted in line with the governor.
Now, the Senate must make its move.
Senate President Karen Spilka said in a statement this week the chamber
“remains firmly committed” to protecting reproductive freedoms and looks forward to “acting promptly.” A session is scheduled for Friday morning.
The Senate passed its initial version by a 33-7 margin, teeing up the possibility of a veto by the Republican governor who last week said he “cannot support” the Democrat-led Legislature’s efforts to take away parental and judicial consent for 16- and 17-year-olds.
House members also rejected — by an identical margin — an amendment
‘The House today reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to protecting reproductive rights in Massachusetts under threat by changes in the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court.’
SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO
filed by Rep. Marc T. Lombardo, R-Billerica, to reinstate language that would require doctors to provide lifesaving measures to a baby that survives an abortion attempt.
Rep. Claire Cronin — who posed the initial amendment — called it “false and cruel rhetoric being disseminated by those that seek to control the decision that (a woman) should be able to make for herself and her family.”
The ROE amendment as it stands requires a doctor to “maintain life-supporting equipment … to enable the physician performing the abortion to take appropriate steps ... to preserve the life and health of a live birth and the patient.”
With barely two weeks left in the legislative session, lawmakers are facing another fight with the Republican governor over a police reform bill Baker also returned last week with a series of amendments thwarting lawmakers’ attempts to limit the use of facial recognition technology and put police training under civilian control.
Four more bills remain caught up in secret conference committees. They deal with health care, economic development, transportation funding and climate change.