Panel backs abortion rights in state Constitution

Legislative proposal drawing early support from Democrats

A legislative committee on Friday endorsed a proposal to enshrine the right to abortion in the Connecticut Constitution.

The concept is in its earliest stages — the language of the proposed constitutional amendment has yet to be drafted — but it has already drawn support from Democrats and criticism from Republicans.

“Reproductive rights are under attack and disappearing across the country,” said Sen. Mae Flexer, a Democrat from Killingly. “It is a scary time.”

Flexer said she got the idea from Vermont, where lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to guarantee access to legal abortion and contraception. The Vermont measure will come before voters at a referendum in November and is expected to pass: 70% of all Vermonters support abortion access, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

The amendments under consideration in Vermont and Connecticut are part of a movement to strengthen abortion access in blue states. The measures come as lawmakers in conservative states such as Arizona, Florida and West Virginia seek to place new limits on abortion.

Meanwhile the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, a case that could weaken or overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that has guaranteed legal abortion since 1973.

“Connecticut proudly has some of the strongest laws in the country to protect women’s reproductive rights,” said Flexer, co-chairwoman of the legislature’s government administration and elections committee, which approved moving forward with the proposed amendment on a party-line vote.

But, she added, “we have seen in other states how quickly laws can change.”

Opponents of legalized abortion vowed to fight the measure.

“The extreme abortionist lobby realizes they are losing public support for their arguments that the taking of innocent life is acceptable and must be enshrined in a sacred document,” said Christopher C. Healy of the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, which lobbies on behalf of the Roman Catholic bishops.

“A vigorous, long-overdue debate on what preserving every second of life will finally provide all people the chance to be heard on an issue of unparalleled moral importance.”

Amending the state Constitution is, by design, a cumbersome process. It requires the legislature to pass a proposed amendment by either a three-quarters majority of both chambers or by a simple majority in both chambers over the course of two successive legislative terms. Then the measure must be ratified by voters at a referendum.

“I think amending the constitution is a big deal,” said Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco of Wolcott, the ranking Republican on the committee.

“I’m not a fan of making changes to the constitution for policy decisions unless they’re of great magnitude,” said Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott. “I do believe the legislature has historically determined what our policy for medical procedures and abortions is.”

Despite a no vote from every Republican, the committee voted to move forward with the proposed amendment. A public hearing will likely be held within the next month.

Advocates for legalized abortion praised the proposal.

“We are seeing abortion come under constant attack across the country, and we know the legal right to abortion alone doesn’t guarantee access,” said Gretchen Raffa, vice president of public policy, advocacy and organizing for Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut. “The fight continues until every person can access abortion in our state.”

Even though the state’s abortion laws are among the nation’s strongest, there are barriers to abortion access for poor women, undocumented immigrants and women who are incarcerated, said Liz Gustafson, director of Pro-Choice Connecticut.

“It’s critical that we have the right to abortion, but as we’ve seen the legal right doesn’t guarantee our communities have real access to it,” she said.