Republicans in Arizona have a chance this week to limit the political fallout from the cataclysmic court ruling enforcing a century-old law that bans virtually all abortion in the state. The question is whether they’ll do anything at all.
When the state legislature meets on Wednesday, members can put forward a repeal of the pre-state abortion law after not doing so last week. There’s growing pressure on Republicans to act, including from within their own national party, but state party leaders have been quiet about any possible plans so far.
“We as an elected body are going to take the time needed to listen to our constituents and carefully consider appropriate actions, rather than rush legislation on a topic of this magnitude without a larger discussion,” Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma said in a statement after pushing aside a repeal attempt last week.