Senator William Sharer, R-Farmington, argues in the Senate plenary on Thursday in favor of a proposed amendment to a Democratic-backed bill that repeals the long-dormant abortion ban. The amendment was rejected and the bill was finally approved by 25 votes to 17 after more than three hours of debate. (Eddie Moore / Journal)
SANTA FE – Different Senate, different vote.
Two years after voting on a bill that would have repealed a long-dormant New Mexico abortion ban, a new state Senate voted 25-17 on Thursday to pass similar legislation.
The vote, which took place after more than three hours of emotional and sometimes angry debate, sets the stage for the Democratic-controlled House to give final approval to the measure as early as next week and send it to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
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“We can perform abortion on our own moral values and still trust that a pregnant woman and her family will make that decision for themselves,” said Senate majority Whip Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, the project’s main sponsor.
The final vote on the measure, Senate Bill 10, came after several proposals for Republican amendments were rejected, including attempts to ban abortion after 20 or 35 weeks of pregnancy.
Republicans were also irritated that Lopez, in a break with typical Senate decorum, refused to answer questions during the debate.
And they argued that repealing the 1969 abortion law that criminalizes abortion in most cases would cause an exodus of health workers from New Mexico, as the target statute also includes a “conscience clause” that allows doctors and nurses to refuse to participate in an abortion procedure if they have moral objections.
“It leaves our doctors no choice,” said Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, who described it as a “no-choice” bill.
But most Democrats backed down on the claim, pointing out that other protections of medical conscience in state and federal laws would remain in effect if the 1969 law were repealed.
“We shouldn’t use intimidation tactics,” said Senator Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, who described the Republican Party’s claims as political statements not backed by law.
The 25-17 vote on the bill fell largely on party lines, with only two Democrats – Sens. George Muñoz de Gallup and Pete Campos from Las Vegas – joining Republicans in voting against the legislation.
Muñoz and Campos also voted against the 2019 abortion repeal legislation, but six other Democrats who voted against that year’s bill are no longer in the Senate, with five of them having been defeated in the June 2020 primary elections.
The New Mexico abortion law is largely inapplicable now because of the historic United States Supreme Court decision in 1973, Roe v. Wade.
But changes in the composition of the Supreme Court during the term of former President Donald Trump have raised questions about whether that decision could be partially or totally overturned in the coming months.
Lujan Grisham, who said last year that the New Mexico abortion ban would “end” as soon as there were enough votes in the Senate to pass a repeal measure, said in a statement on Thursday that the legislation affirms women’s autonomy over women. your own body.
“I thank and applaud the senators who spoke in such personal terms in their testimony of support today,” said the governor. “This was a time for common sense leadership and I am grateful to the legislators and advocates who met at that time.”
Even before the final Senate vote is taken, House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, told reporters on Thursday that he hopes to refer the abortion bill to a House committee quickly.
There may be final action in the House at the end of next week, he said, depending on other scheduling considerations.
Journal Capitol Bureau reporter Dan McKay contributed to this report.