Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says he "would be inclined to sign" a proposal banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, if lawmakers pass it. Photo courtesy Wikicommons
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that he likely would sign a proposal banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, if his state's lawmakers pass it.
The bill would make Louisiana the second state in the nation with such a restrictive abortion law, following Mississippi. Louisiana's proposal , sponsored by Sen. John Milkovich, a Democrat from Keithville, hasn't yet received a hearing.
"It remains to be seen whether that bill will make its way through the process. I would be inclined to sign it if it hits my desk," Edwards, a Democrat who opposes abortion, said on his monthly radio call-in show.
Louisiana currently prohibits abortion after 20 weeks.
As he announced his position, the governor described himself as "very much a pro-life individual." But he also said he hasn't spoken to Milkovich, other lawmakers or interest groups about the 15-week ban bill.
Mississippi's governor signed his state's new law barring abortion after 15 weeks' gestation on Monday, and it became law immediately. A federal judge blocked it a day later, after Mississippi's only abortion clinic sued, arguing the law is unconstitutional.
Milkovich's bill wouldn't penalize a woman seeking the abortion, but would make it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion after the 15-week period. Doctors who violate the ban would face a prison sentence ranging from one year to 10 years, along with a hefty fine. The measure would maintain an existing exception for abortions performed because of risks to the pregnant woman's life.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.
