Indiana’s New Near-Total Abortion Ban Elicits Backlash

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the state’s near-total abortion ban into law. Not long after, President Joe Biden bashed the legislative move.

Shortly after the state legislators passed Senate Bill 1 on Friday, the governor made it law. The Act amended the Indiana Code concerning health: The new law bans abortion except when the mother’s life is at risk or for life-threatening fatal fetal anomalies, up to 10 weeks post-fertilization, according to Time Magazine. It also provides exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

Women in the state will not be allowed to obtain abortions after September 15, 2022, when the law takes effect. Under the new law, the only place a state-allowed abortion can take place is in a hospital or hospital-owned outpatient center, which shuts down all abortion clinics in the state. The law also threatens doctors who perform illegal abortions or do not complete the required paperwork for a “legal abortion” with the loss of their medical licenses.

Courtesy of Dept. of Defense (DVIDS PDM)

President Biden was highly critical of Indiana passing its abortion ban. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred to the state’s legislative move as a “devastating…[and] radical step by Republican legislators to take away women’s reproductive rights and freedom, and put personal health care decisions in the hands of politicians rather than women and their doctors.”

The Biden administration’s statement echoes more than half of Americans’ feelings about the dramatic change in women’s rights — 61% as of June.

Shortly after Indiana’s ban was announced, President Biden’s tweet said:

This week, I signed an executive order to make sure health care providers comply with federal law so women don’t face delays or denials of medically necessary care. It builds on the first one I signed last month that will also help safeguard access to health care.

Since the United States Supreme Court’s controversial decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, sending the issue back to the states, several state leaders vowed to restrict access to abortions. For example, West Virginia’s legislature reconvened for a special session, but after the state’s Republican-led legislators failed to reach a consensus, they adjourned. Their failure leaves their near-total abortion ban in limbo while the procedure until 20 weeks post-fertilization remains legal. Other states that might call special sessions this summer to deal with abortion bans include Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina, according to CNN.

During Kansas’ primary election on August 2, citizens voted against banning abortion in their state. The victory for Kansas’ pro-choice activists was significant given the governor is Republican and the legislative body is Republican-controlled.

Written by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

CNN: Indiana becomes first state post-Roe to pass law banning most abortions; by Veronica Stracqualursi, Laura Ly, and Keily Westhoff
CNN: These are the next states that could call special sessions to limit abortion rights; by Veronica Stracqualursi
TIME: Biden Administration Calls Indiana Abortion Ban a ‘Devastating Step;’ by Anisha Kohli

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Governor Eric Holcomb’s Flickr Page – Public Domain License
First Inset Image by Lisa Ferdinando for the Dept. of Defense Courtesy of DVIDS – Public Domain License
Second Inset Image by Momoneymoproblemz Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License