Andy: Abort reg boost in a Dem Senate

ALBANY — In the face of the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation vote, Gov. Cuomo on Friday said the state will quickly act to strength New York’s abortion laws if the Democrats win control of the state Senate.

“We need to pass a law in New York codifying Roe v. Wade, and we are going to pass that law with a Democratic Senate within the first 30 days of this new legislative session (that begins in January),” Cuomo said at a rally in Peekskill for Senate Democratic candidate Peter Harckham.

Cuomo in recent months has repeatedly warned of the possibility that a conservative Supreme Court, especially if Kavanaugh is confirmed, could overturn Roe v. Wade.

“The Supreme Court plus Trump is an American nightmare,” Cuomo said at Friday’s rally.

He added that, “When they do what they do in Washington, we have to pass state laws that protect our rights.”

The Democrats need to pick up at least one seat to take the Senate majority, which would give the party total control of the Legislature and the governor’s mansion.

The bill Democrats are pushing would take abortion out of the criminal law and instead place it in public health law. It would also allow, under certain circumstances, abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif called it “an extreme proposal that would allow nondoctors to perform abortions right up to the moment of birth.”

Supporters of the measure deny that.