Sure, here’s a rewritten version:
The Arizona Senate made a significant move on Wednesday by voting to repeal a longstanding near-total abortion ban that had been in place for 160 years. This decision came just three weeks after the state Supreme Court revived the law, sparking intense debates over reproductive rights.
In a tight vote of 16 to 14, two Republican senators, Shawnna Bolick and T.J. Shope, joined forces with the chamber’s Democrats to push through the repeal. The previous week, three Republicans in the state House had also voted for repeal, aligning with all 29 Democrats.
The bill now awaits the signature of Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who has expressed eagerness to sign it into law swiftly. Once enacted, the repeal would maintain the state’s 15-week limit on abortions, a restriction put in place in 2022 without exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Governor Hobbs emphasized the importance of this repeal in safeguarding women’s lives but noted that more efforts are needed to protect reproductive healthcare in Arizona.
The pressure for repeal had been mounting on Republicans, especially from prominent figures like former Governor Doug Ducey and former President Donald Trump, as well as Senate candidate Kari Lake.
One of the Republican senators who voted for the repeal, Shawnna Bolick, shared her deeply personal experiences with pregnancy, including a miscarriage, to explain her decision. She emphasized her support for the 15-week limit as a preferable alternative.
Despite the impending repeal, the immediate future of abortion access in Arizona remains uncertain. The state’s Attorney General has requested additional time to consider appealing the Supreme Court’s decision to the US Supreme Court.
The ban being repealed dates back to the Civil War era, remaining in effect until it was blocked following the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Its revival by the state Supreme Court on April 9 reignited the debate over abortion rights.
For advocates of abortion rights, the repeal marks a significant victory after years of activism. Democrats, in particular, have been pushing for this repeal since 2019.
However, even with the repeal, Democrats plan to continue advocating against the 15-week limit and its lack of exceptions for rape or incest, targeting vulnerable House Republicans over their anti-abortion stances.
Abortion opponents, on the other hand, see the repeal as a setback. The discussion surrounding the vote grew heated, with some Republicans criticizing their colleagues who supported the repeal, while Democrats emphasized the importance of not imposing religious beliefs through legislation.
In summary, the repeal of Arizona’s long-standing abortion ban reflects a complex and deeply divisive issue that continues to be fiercely debated in the state.
