Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is expected to sign a bill passed Thursday that will allow late-term abortions in her state.
The bill passed 73-69 in the state's House and 20-11 in the Senate.
Maine @GovJanetMills is expected to sign a bill passed on Thursday that allows post-viability abortions when deemed medically necessary.
The bill was introduced in April with Mills' backing.https://t.co/DtrGaI2Wjd
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 7, 2023
"After viability an abortion may be performed only when it is necessary in the professional judgment of a [licensed] physician," reads the legislation, according to the Washington Post.
"Abortion in Maine is currently legal for any reason until the legal standard of fetal viability, which is typically approximately 24 weeks gestation, but scientific advances have made this language questionable in the eyes of anti-abortion advocates. The new law would allow abortions at any time if approved and facilitated by a doctor," the report added.
How proud Maine must be to support late term abortion. Democrats are sick. Maine Democrats Send Late-Term Abortion Bill to Governor’s Desk https://t.co/ftaNxUSrSd
— Always Chatty Sig (@always_chatty) July 8, 2023
The legislation moved forward despite hundreds of protesters against the bill to expand abortion in the state.
"Thousands of pro-lifers showed up at the state Capitol in May to protest the late-term abortion bill. During one committee meeting, nearly 700 testified against the bill while only 65 testified in favor," Life News reported.
"Maine Right to Life, Catholic leaders and other pro-life organizations also urged lawmakers to reject the legislation, pointing to polls that consistently show strong public opposition to late-term abortions," it added.
The bill stands in contrast with the moves of many states over the past year that have added more restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court's decision to return laws on the issue to individual states.
More than 20 states have issued stricter abortion limitations to protect the lives of the unborn, including some states like Oklahoma and Tennessee that have outlawed nearly all abortions.
The battle will certainly continue over the issue in Maine but the governor and the state's Democrats have made it clear where they stand on the issue of the unborn.
