Abortion bills pass New Mexico House, head to Senate

Two pro-life bills advanced through New Mexico’s House of Representatives Friday. If they make it through the Senate, the legislation will bring the state in line with most others that regulate abortion on some level. New Mexico has yet to enact major abortion regulations.

One bill bans late-term, induction abortions. The other requires parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion. An admitting privileges bill, introduced in the Senate, died in committee earlier this month. Though the House has a strong Republican majority for the first time since 1954, the Senate remains under Democratic control.

If the Senate passes the late-term abortion ban, New Mexico will join 42 other states that prohibit abortions at some point during pregnancy.

“This is not a bill eliminating all abortions, only late-term abortions … it’s a human rights issue,” said bill sponsor Rep. Yvette Herrell. The late-term ban relies on an abortionist’s viability determination. And both bills allow exceptions for rape, incest, sexual abuse, and threats to the mother’s health.

But the viability factor means the ban will default to 24 weeks. “That is problematic,” Cheryl Sullenger, senior policy analyst for Operation Rescue, told me in February.

Right to Life Committee of New Mexico declined to either support or oppose the legislation. Executive Director Dauneen Dolce said the bill was “poorly written” and wouldn’t accomplish what its supporters hope.

On paper, the bill appears to be a 20-week abortion ban. But it requires abortionists to evaluate the baby’s viability after 20 weeks. The abortion industry usually defaults to a 24-week viability standard, Sullenger said.

“But it’s better than nothing,” she said. “And when you consider that it’s their first serious attempt at … passing [pro-life legislation], we’re going to take it.” Pro-life legislators may attempt to strengthen the ban in the future.

Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, N.M., is the largest late-term abortion facility in the country. Because it offers abortions through the 35th week of pregnancy, even a 24-week ban will significantly dent the facility’s business, Sullenger added.

Though Dolce doubts the bills will pass in the Senate, Sullenger remains optimistic due to their broad appeal to most Americans. A recent Gallup poll revealed 48 percent of Americans want stricter abortion laws.

The admitting privileges bill that failed in a Senate committee was “doomed to failure from the very get-go,” Sullenger said. Though it probably would have made the greatest impact, the bill was sent to a hostile committee, in addition to its already controversial nature.

But Democrats can’t justify voting against either the late-term ban or the parental notification requirement, Sullenger said. Most people, including pro-abortion advocates, oppose killing viable babies. And while minor girls need parental consent to get their ears pierced, they can obtain an abortion in New Mexico now without telling their parents.

“It’s a common sense law,” said Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, who sponsored the parental notification bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.