Governor Janet T. Mills (D) Speaking at aPress Conference in Lewiston Last Year..

A Message on the Front of the Downtown Portland Public Librar at a Pro-Abortion Rights Rally Last Year.

“In the year since Roe v. Wade was overturned, more than  a dozen states have enacted extensive bans on abortion.  As a result in America today, nearly one-third of women no longer have access to abortion.  While it is easy to believe that these attacks on reproductive rights only exist beyond our state’s borders, there have been bills in this 131st Legislature to restrict reproductive rights by forcing ultrasounds, by mandating biased counseling, by taking away insurance coverage for abortion for low-income people and by restricting access to abortion for rural women.  We turned back these attempts to undermine reproductive rights in Maine and, instead, we have preserved and expanded reproductive freedom in Maine,” Governor Mills wrote in her testimony.

The above is part of the Governor’s testimony submitted today to the Standing Committee on Judiciary on LD 780 – resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Maine to Protect Personal Reproductive Autonomy.  If passed with 2/3 support from the Maine Legislature, voters would be asked to ratify language making clear that personal reproductive autonomy is a constitutional right in Maine.

“However, no matter how strong our laws may be, they are subject to everchanging political tides and can be repeated.  That is why, without any such federal potection, it is critical that Maine people be assured that reproductive autonomy be protected to the greatest extent possible in the state – through an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Maine.  Indeed, many of us would argue that Maine;s Constitution already protects reproductive rights, but the language of LD 780 would remove any debate,” Governor Mills continued.  “This action is needed now more than ever.  That is why I support enhancing the right to reproductive autonomy in the Maine Constitution and urge you pass LD 780, so that Maine people can make their own decisiosns about their own fundamental rights.”

For background information on a rally on reproducvie rights of women, please visit post herein dated May 13, 2022 on how teenagers drove anti-abortion leaders from Monument Square.