Governor Gordon Emphasizes Pro-Life Position with New Laws
Governor of Wyoming sent this bulletin at 03/17/2023 06:24 PM MDT |
|
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2023
CONTACT: Michael Pearlman, Communications Director
michael.pearlman@wyo.gov
Governor Gordon Emphasizes Pro-Life Position with New Laws
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon took further steps to implement a pro-life policy agenda when he signed a prohibition on chemical abortions today. At the same time, he allowed House Bill 152 - Life is a Human Right Act to go into law. But he expressed concern that this new law will only result in a new lawsuit, which will delay any resolution to the constitutionality of the abortion ban in Wyoming. Earlier today, the plaintiffs in the current lawsuit filed a legal challenge of this new law in the event the Act was not vetoed.
The Governor says that since the Legislature continues to make minor tweaks in the abortion law each year, it only leads to additional delays in obtaining a final decision from the courts about Wyoming’s Constitution. Governor Gordon stressed that if the Legislature wants finality it should put a constitutional amendment before the people and let them decide if they want to add an abortion ban to the state's constitution.
The Governor has a strong pro-life record, including signing Senate File 109 - Prohibiting Chemical Abortion, Senate File 79–Plan of safe care-newborns, and last year’s House Enrolled Act No. 57 Abortion prohibition-supreme court decision, as well as House Bill 4 - Medicaid twelve-month postpartum coverage, which extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 low-income Wyoming mothers.
“I understand the Legislature’s effort to improve Wyoming’s pro-life legal framework and preemptively clarify some of these legal questions with HEA 0088’s various legislative findings,” the Governor wrote. “However, I believe this question needs to be decided as soon as possible so that the issue of abortion in Wyoming can be finally resolved, and that is best done with a vote of the people.”
While he understands the intent of the legislative findings included in Life is a Human Right Act, the Governor said he does not feel these are a, “substitute for an expression of the people when it comes to constitutional matters.”
“If the Legislature wants to expressly address how the Wyoming Constitution treats abortion and defines healthcare, then those issues should be vetted through the amendment process laid out in Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution and voted on directly by the people,” the Governor wrote.
The Governor’s letter is attached and may be viewed here.
In his final actions on bills passed during the 2023 General Legislative session, Governor Gordon exercised his line-item veto authority on the following bills. The letters with line items, along with a list of all bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2023 Legislative Session, can be found on the Governor’s website.
HEA0091 HB0195 American rescue plan act appropriations-amendments.
SEA0084 SF0146 State funded capital construction.
SEA0097 SF0096 Omnibus water bill-planning and administration.
-END-
