Maine abortion referendum effort fails in Statehouse vote

Maine residents won’t vote this November on whether to enshrine abortion in the state constitution after the proposed referendum did not gather the support needed from legislators. The House voted 75-65 Tuesday night in favor of passing the ballot measure, but the bill failed to gather the necessary two-thirds majority for enactment. A state Senate vote on the measure planned for Wednesday has been canceled, stopping the bill in its tracks.

State Rep. Katrina Smith defended the rights of unborn children during a floor debate, reminding the chamber that unborn babies have their own life ahead of them outside the womb. Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund Vice President of Public Affairs Lisa Margulies described the vote as infuriating and shameful. She said the failed vote would inform how the public votes for its representatives in November.

What is the state of abortion in Maine? Legislators last year rescinded previous protections for children in the womb after around 24 weeks of gestation. The state now allows abortion any time during a pregnancy if the procedure is “necessary in the professional judgment of a physician.” Despite the lack of protection for unborn babies, Democratic legislators like State Rep. Sophie Warren have pushed to protect abortion in the state constitution.

What other state legislatures have voted on abortion legislation recently? Tennessee lawmakers also moved to protect unborn children this week by advancing a statute criminalizing adults who help minors receive an abortion without parental consent. The state Senate passed the bill on Wednesday in a 26-3 vote, moving the measure to the state House for consideration.

Dig deeper:  Read Lillian Hamman’s report on Pennsylvania state lawmakers pushing to reduce protections for unborn babies.