Abortion

Minnesota Senate Committee Approves 20 Week Ban, Subsidized Abortion Elimination

Minnesota passes two more reproductive health restrictions out of committee.

A Minnesota senate committee voted through a bill to restrict poor women’s ability to use state subsidized health care for abortions, as well as a ban on all abortions after 20 weeks.

The West Central Tribune reports:

The Judiciary and Public Safety Committee voted 8-5 Tuesday for a bill that would bar subsidized coverage of abortions for women on state health care programs.

A ban on abortions shortly after the midway point in pregnancy also cleared the panel on an 8-4 vote.

The ban on allowing poor women to use state based Medicaid funds is a direct violation of the Minnesota state constitution’s Doe V. Gomez ruling, and is an attempt to reverse the decision now that the court has become more conservative. 

Both bills, should they pass the Senate and House, are expected to be vetoed by the governor.  It is unclear if there are enough votes in both chambers to override a veto.