It’s no secret that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his allies in the state legislature want to expand the abortion law in New York, which is already one of the most permissive in the nation. New York is the abortion capital of the United States — with the highest abortion rates int he country and more abortions than births in some minority areas — but pro-life advocates were able to stop a bad situation from getting worse.
Today, the Senate Health Committee killed legislation that would have expanded abortion in the third trimester and reduced the limited protections already in place.
Voting to protect the health and well-being of New York women and unborn children by opposing the dangerous and extreme so-called “Reproductive Health Act”(S.438), the Committee voiced concerns about expanding third-trimester abortion in a state that is already the abortion capital of the United States.
“We are so thankful to the Senators who are committed to standing for women and their children,” said Lori Kehoe, executive director of New York State Right to Life. “It is ridiculous that in 2014 we have to fight those who would legalize the dismemberment of unborn children for any reason throughout the third trimester.”
Senators Ball, Farley, Felder, Golden, Hannon, Larkin, Martins, Seward, and Young all voted to strike down the extreme language introduced by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
“The only extremists in this room are the legislators who support this legislation,” stated Senator Greg Ball during the hearing today.
“We continue to ask Senators Hassell-Thompson, Hoylman, Montgomery, O’Brien, Peralta, Rivera, Savino, and Serrano why they think dismemberment abortion in the ninth month for any reason is needed in New York State, or anywhere that deems itself a civilized society,” added Kehoe.
Governor Cuomo and his allies have pushed this legislation once before and they will push it again, making this pro-life victory today but a victorious skirmish in a much longer battle.
