Ariz. Antiabortion Groups Hope For Shift In Policies If Gov. Napolitano Leaves For Obama Cabinet

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 02 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PST

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The replacement of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) -- whom President-elect Barack Obama is expected to nominate for secretary of homeland security -- with Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer (R) would likely shift the state's abortion laws toward more restrictive policies, the Arizona Republic reports. Brewer -- who opposes abortion rights -- would ascend to the governorship if Napolitano left the post, according to the Republic. Since taking office in 2003, Napolitano has "earned a reputation as a staunch defender of abortion rights," vetoing at least nine provisions that would limit access to abortion procedures, the Republic reports. Some of the bills Napolitano has vetoed include measures that would have prohibited the use of state funds for abortion procedures and required women seeking abortions to be told that the fetus would feel pain.

Chuck Coughlin, a political consultant to Brewer, said Brewer "has a deep sense that government has a role to protect those who can't protect themselves. That extends to the unborn." If Brewer became governor, Republicans in Arizona would have control of the state House, Senate and governor's office. Pam Grissom -- chair of the board of the Tucson-based abortion-rights group Arizona List -- said the group is "very concerned about what's going to happen by losing the governor's veto." According to the Republic, political observers expect that Brewer as governor would approve measures that would restrict access to abortion for minors, tighten medical standards for facilities that perform abortions and increase restrictions on abortion procedures later in pregnancy (Benson, Arizona Republic, 12/1).

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