Los Angeles Officials Back Ballot Measure to Codify Abortion Into State Constitution

Los Angeles City Hall on Nov. 8, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The Los Angeles City Council introduced a resolution on Sept. 20 to support Proposition 1 on the November ballot, which would codify abortion in the state constitution. But critics are concerned that the measure doesn’t have a limit on late-term abortions.

Proposition 1 calls on amending the state constitution to “prohibit the state from denying ... an abortion.” The proposition is a response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 precedent that struck down a series of federal and state laws restricting abortion and largely legalized the procedure nationwide.

“Abortion must be protected in this country, and failing to do so denies women the equality we all deserve,” Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez said at a press briefing at Los Angeles City Hall. Martinez and Council President Pro Tempore Mitch O'Farrell introduced the resolution to support Proposition 1.

The rebuttal to the argument in favor of Proposition 1 in the Official Voter Information Guide distributed to voters by the Secretary of State’s Office states that “Proposition 1 is not needed to protect abortion rights but it will cost California taxpayers millions” of dollars through the increased number of abortion seekers from other states coming to California.

“California law already allows access to abortion and contraception,” attorney Heather Hacker said in the rebuttal. “But unlike state law, which limits late-term abortions unless medically necessary, Proposition 1 has no limit on late-term abortions.”

City News Service contributed to this report.