Governor Ned Lamont (D-CT) held a ceremony at the state Capitol Tuesday to celebrate his recent approval of a bill strengthening legal protections for abortionists as well as those seeking to end their pregnancies in Connecticut.
The legislation also expands the list of practitioners who the state enables to perform abortions.
“In Connecticut, we believe that reproductive freedom matters, that safety matters, and that abortion is healthcare, which should always be safe, accessible, and legal,” Lamont wrote in a Twitter post after the legislation’s ceremonial signing. “An extraordinary, bipartisan group of leaders came together today to make this point crystal clear.”
In Connecticut, we believe that reproductive freedom matters, that safety matters, and that abortion is healthcare, which should always be safe, accessible, and legal.
An extraordinary, bipartisan group of leaders came together today to make this point crystal clear. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/7iccUnje8c
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) May 10, 2022
Lamont and other pro-abortion officials are touting their support for what they term “reproductive choice” in the wake of news that the U.S. Supreme Court is likely preparing to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across America. If the ruling is struck down, states will once again have the ability to determine the level of restriction on procedures and substances that induce abortion.
Pro-choice Connecticut thanked the governor for his work on the issue.
“Today we joined legislative champions & coalition partners for the ceremonial signing of the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act!” the organization tweeted on Tuesday. “Thank you [Gov. Lamont] & [Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz] for your commitment to protecting and expanding access to abortion in our state.”
Today we joined legislative champions & coalition partners for the ceremonial signing of the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act! Thank you @GovNedLamont & @LGSusanB for your commitment to protecting and expanding access to abortion in our state. pic.twitter.com/pp24EOxixg
— Pro-Choice Connecticut (@ProChoiceCT) May 10, 2022
Connecticut’s pro-lifers, meanwhile, face an uphill battle trying to get their state to reverse course anytime soon. Bob Stefanowski, a Republican running for governor, has responded to the news about Roe by simply emphasizing that it would not “change anything here in Connecticut.” His running mate, State Representative Laura Devlin (R-Fairfield), has echoed that sentiment.
State House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) has also posited that residents of Connecticut “would take issue with” the kind of broad restrictions on abortion being pursued in more conservative states like Texas and Mississippi.
Pro-abortion Nutmeggers are hardly the only ones to redouble their enthusiasm for the issue in light of recent events. On Tuesday, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she would use $35 million in taxpayer money to create a fund for abortion clinics. She said her state must prepare for an “influx” of out-of-state abortion seekers should Roe get reversed.
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Bradley Vasoli is managing editor of The Connecticut Star. Follow Brad on Twitter at @BVasoli. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ned Lamont” by Ned Lamont.
