The viability of a baby to survive outside the womb will no longer be a legal limitation on abortion, if Maine Democrats get their way.
The new legal standard will be the “professional judgment of a physician,” according to the language of a proposal that’s currently before the Judiciary Committee of the Maine House of Representatives.
The measure, LD 1619, has become known as “The Governor’s Bill” because it was introduced in the state Legislature by Democrat Gov. Janet Mills.
Mills said her support for the bill was motivated by the plight of a Maine woman who had to travel out of state to obtain an abortion in the eighth month of pregnancy after the baby was diagnosed with a painful and likely fatal defect.
Under current Maine law, abortion providers may not perform an abortion beyond six months into a woman’s pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother.
Criminal penalties that doctors now face if they violate the time limit of the current statute would be removed by LD 1619.
The new legislation gives a doctor the ability to prescribe an abortion until the end of the ninth month, even up to the moment of birth.
The Mills Bill
In her formal introduction of LD 1619, a proposal she calls “rational and compassionate,” Mills included statements from medical professionals, civic organizations, and religious leaders across the state in support of the legislation.“Maine physicians ... understand more than anyone the anxiety, fear, and differing personal circumstances of each patient, including the real-life impacts of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting,” said Dr. Erik Steele, president of the Maine Medical Association.
“We stand steadfast with Governor Mills in defense of the health care of all Mainers and our profession.”
Meagan Sway, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, stated: “This legislation will reinforce Maine’s position as a leader in protecting abortion access by repealing outdated and anti-science laws criminalizing this essential health care.
“Across the country, too many states are banning abortion and threatening prosecution against patients and providers.”
The study found that abortion is protected by law in 21 states and the District of Columbia and “is at risk of being severely limited or prohibited in 26 states and three territories.”
Nicole Clegg of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund called the proposed legislation an opportunity for Maine to set an example for state legislatures throughout the country.
“As we have seen over the past year, people opposed to abortion will not stop until they have banned access to legal abortions. ... I applaud our state leaders for taking steps to safeguard our rights and protect people seeking medical care and those who provide it.”
The executive director of the Maine Council of Churches, Jane Field, said: “Like the majority of Christians across the United States, [the Council] believes abortion should be safe and legal.
“We affirm the ability of pregnant people to make good moral choices and believe the decision to end a pregnancy can be such a choice.
Opponents Speak Out
Carroll Conley, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine (CCLM), questions the biblical grounding for Field’s comments and called her assertion that a majority of Christians believe abortion should be safe and legal “absurd.”“That most Christians support legislation like LD 1619 is at best wishful thinking, but more likely duplicitous propaganda,” he told The Epoch Times.
“Wherever folks may land on the pro-life/pro-abortion spectrum, poll after poll shows that extreme legislation like LD 1619 is opposed by 80 percent of Americans.
“Regardless of a person’s religious affiliation—or lack thereof—and political association, Mainers are speaking up and declaring their opposition to a bill that would legalize abortion at any time for any reason.
“Not to mention the removal of any criminal consequence for someone performing an abortion without a license,” he said.
Section 3 B of the bill does away with the current penalty for an unlicensed person performing an abortion.
Dr. Jerry Collins, a retired psychiatrist and pro-life activist from Kennebunkport, also opposes the removal of criminal penalties for someone performing an abortion without being a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Muzzling Opposition
Another bill, LD 1137, introduced on March 13 by Democrat state Rep. Lori Gramlich, would make most church-sponsored pro-life pregnancy counseling centers subject to civil fines of up to $500 per offense for disseminating “deceptive or misleading” or “partial” information.Collins said the text of the proposed law sets up Democrat Attorney General Aaron Frey as the de facto “judge and jury” over what speech constitutes a violation.
He called the proponents of LD 1137 “control freaks” bent on “restricting freedom of speech.”
“Enforcement would be a huge problem. Will the state bug all the examining rooms? This is sheer craziness,” Collins said.
If enacted, the law would also require the offending party to pay for the dissemination of information that “corrects the information identified as deceptive or misleading.”
A court could also order whatever measures it deems necessary to “remedy adverse effects that the information identified as deceptive or misleading had on a person seeking counseling,” according to the proposed bill.
Eliminate Pro-Life Pregnancy Counseling
The Christian Civic League of Maine believes LD 1137 would mean the end of the state’s 16 privately supported pro-life pregnancy counseling facilities.“The largest part of the mission is to offer hope to a young woman and show her that abortion is not her only option. ...” the statement said.
CCLM expressed concern that there are no clear criteria defining “misleading and deceptive information” specified by the legislation.
They fear the deciding factor will be whether the information agrees with pro-abortion ideology.
Acting With a Mandate?
Democrat lawmakers believe they are following the wishes of their constituents by offering bills that would defend and extend access to abortion. Some have referred to their capturing control of both houses of the state Legislature in last year’s midterm election as a mandate to do so.“The election told us all we need to know about where Maine stands on abortion,” one Democrat representative said.
The Democratic majorities have since drafted legislation to ban municipalities from ignoring or overriding state abortion laws and to eliminate insurance co-pays for abortions.
There’s also a push by Democrats to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.
The Republican minority in the state House and Senate have authored bills that would provide insurance coverage for an expectant mother to obtain a second opinion if her health care provider recommends an abortion and to ban the sale of abortion-inducing drugs by mail or if ordered remotely through telehealth.
