In President Donald Trump’s State of The Union Address last evening, he singled out New York’s new abortion law that was passed last month.
Trumps criticized New York’s law and proposed a legislation to roll back on women’s rights to abortion and called for a ban on late-term abortion. These rights are ensured by the Supreme Court Roe V. Wade decision, which legalized abortion.
“Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments from birth.” Trump said in his address
Contrary to Trump’s statements, New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, who signed the bill in January said in an Op-ed published on The New York Times, “the law only allows for abortions after 24 weeks if the fetus is not viable or when it’s necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.”
Cuomo also countered Trump’s criticism adding that third-trimester procedures only make up about 1 percent of all abortions. Stating that the option is available for exactly the reason stated in Roe and successor cases: to protect the life or health of the woman.
Cuomo stated New York State lawmakers felt compelled to act on abortion laws due to the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court, with the confirmation of Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and their political agenda to rollback the Roe v. Wade decision.
