Infighting in the Arizona GOP is thwarting attempts from Democrat and centrist Republican lawmakers in the state legislature to repeal the Civil War-era law that prohibits nearly all abortions.
The conflict is the fallout of a landmark decision from the state Supreme Court on Tuesday that the 1864 abortion ban that prevents abortion except for cases of “immediate” danger to the mothers must supersede the more moderate 15 weeks’ gestation abortion limitation that was passed by the GOP-majority legislature in 2022.
Despite prior statements from House Speaker Ben Toma suggesting that he would support a repeal effort, legislation from Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton to overturn the ban was blocked twice by Republicans in the chamber.
“Republican members rumored to support the repeal chickened out and voted to adjourn instead,” a spokesperson for the Arizona House Democrats posted
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