Republican Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a strict new abortion bill into law, even though he said that he had grave concerns over the wisdom and constitutionality of the ban and warned that it will re-traumatize victims of sexual assault.
The new abortion ban is modeled after the strict sweeping ban in Texas. The Idaho one also bans abortions after the six-week mark, which is before most people know they are pregnant, effectively banning all abortions. The Idaho law allows family members of what it labels a “pre-born child” to sue the abortion provider.
Gov. Little said that the law will conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court’s precedent set in Roe v. Wade in 1973, which establishes a constitutional right to abortion.
It did not stop him from signing it into law.
In a message to the president of the State Senate, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, Gov. Little wrote that while he supports the pro-life policy at the base of the legislation, he fears that the civil enforcement of the measure will be proven both unconstitutional and unwise.
The state attorney general’s office had previously issued an opinion saying that the proposed bill would effectively ban all abortions, and therefore be found unconstitutional.
Gov. Little also warned that liberal states could use the same tactics and limit religious or firearm rights.
Furthermore, Gov. Little said that he has significant concerns with the unintended consequences that the legislation will have on victims of sexual assault and rape. Unlike in Texas, the Idaho law does make one extremely limited exception for cases of rape, but only that rapists cannot file lawsuits against abortion providers. The rapists’ family members still can.
Gov. Little urged the Republican-majority Legislature to rectify any unintended consequences of the legislation, and not allow monetary incentives to rapists and their family members.
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