In message to GOP, Assembly passes two reproductive rights bills
Backed by a large number of his Democratic conference and advocates, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Tuesday afternoon warned of “a slow and steady erosion” of reproductive rights as he announced that the chamber would pass two measures designed to protect abortion availability and enhance access to contraception — issues that are once again back in the news as Republicans take control of the gears of government in Washington, D.C., and President Donald Trump prepares to name a Supreme Court justice who could play a role in undoing four decades of uneasy consensus on the right to abortion.
The chamber passed the latest version of the Reproductive Health Act, which codifies the protections of the high court’s Roe v. Wade decisions in state law, Tuesday evening by a 96-46 vote. Members then passed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which would require all health insurers provide cost-free contraceptive coverage as a part of their insurance policies, later Tuesday night by a similarly wide margin.
The second bill was introduced by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
“Over the years, we’ve heard it all — that this doesn’t need to be in state law; we’ve heard that the Roe v. Wade decision isn’t going anywhere, but still this conference has pushed a vote,” Heastie said. “We saw the warning signs of an agenda that is committed to turning back the hands of progress.”
Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/271281/in-message-to-gop-assembly-to-pass-two-reproductive-rights-bills/