The Arizona Legislature devolved into shouts of "Shame! Shame!" on Wednesday as Republican lawmakers quickly shut down discussion on a proposed repeal of the state's newly revived 1864 law that criminalizes abortion throughout pregnancy unless a woman's life is at risk.
The state Supreme Court cleared the way on Tuesday for enforcement of the pre-statehood law. Arizona abortion providers vowed Wednesday to continue service until they're forced to stop, possibly within weeks.
State legislators convened as pressure mounted from Democrats and some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, for them to intervene.
House Democrats and at least one Republican tried to open discussion on a repeal of the 1864 abortion ban, which holds no exceptions for rape or incest. GOP leaders, who command the majority, cut it off twice and quickly adjourned for the week. Outraged Democrats erupted in finger-waving chants of "Shame! Shame!"
Republican state Rep. Teresa Martinez, of Casa Grande, said there was no reason to rush the debate. She accused Democrats of "screaming at us and engaging in extremist and insurrectionist behavior on the House floor." The GOP-led Senate briefly convened without debate on abortion.
"We find ourselves in a realm of law and policy that is intricate, emotional, and crucial," stated Martinez, the GOP House whip. "In my view, the act of separating healthy babies from healthy mothers does not fall under health care or reproductive care. Pregnancy is not a disease. It should be embraced. It is the act of abortion that ends a life."
Democratic lawmakers capitalized on the widespread attention surrounding the state's abortion ban.
"The spotlight of the world is on Arizona right now," remarked Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, from Tucson. "We understand that the recent Supreme Court ruling is extreme. And we are aware that if the 1864 abortion ban remains in effect in Arizona, lives will be lost."
Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs denounced the lack of action on the proposed repeal as unconscionable.
"Extremist legislators have upheld a Civil War-era blanket abortion prohibition that criminalizes doctors, deprives women of our bodily autonomy, and endangers our lives," she declared.
Based on AP VoteCast, 6 out of 10 Arizona voters in the 2022 midterm elections expressed support for ensuring legal abortion nationwide. The state reported 11,530 abortions in 2022, the most recent data available, according to the Department of Health Services.
At Camelback Family Planning in Phoenix, a facility where approximately one-fourth of Arizona's abortions take place, registered nurse Ashleigh Feiring affirmed that abortion services are still being provided and that the staff is hopeful that emergency measures will prevent any disruptions or closures.
"Our intention is to remain operational for as long as possible," Feiring stated. "Our clinic has faced closure twice in the past four years, but we have always managed to resume our services."
At the same time, anti-abortion groups including SBA Pro-Life America urged Arizona residents to oppose a proposed ballot initiative aimed at placing abortion rights in Arizona's state constitution.
"They would wipe away all pro-life laws put in place by the Legislature, reflective of the will of the people," SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement.
Hobbs, however, predicted that outrage will motivate voters to enshrine abortion rights directly in state law.
"The fight is not over, for sure," she said.
Grace Harders drove around metro Phoenix on Wednesday looking for an opportunity to sign an abortion rights petition. She said she wouldn't know what to do if she had an unplanned pregnancy but knew she'd be scared.
"I'm a pro-choice person, and I want to ensure the right for all women," Harders said.
Abortion rights advocates said they've gathered more than 500,000 signatures — far above what they need to add a ballot question asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion until viability, when a fetus could survive outside the womb.
Arriving for a campaign fundraiser in Atlanta, Trump said the Arizona court decision went too far and called on state lawmakers to change it even as he defended the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning of Roe v. Wade.
"It's all about states' rights," the former president told supporters and journalists. "It'll be straightened out."
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, most Republican-controlled states have started enforcing new bans or restrictions, and most Democratic-dominated ones have sought to protect abortion access.
The Arizona ruling suggests doctors can be prosecuted for performing the procedure. The 1864 law carries a sentence of two to five years in prison for doctors or anyone else who assists in an abortion.
"Physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a woman's life, are illegal," the Arizona Supreme Court said in its decision, adding that additional criminal and regulatory sanctions may apply to abortions performed after 15 weeks, the state's previous time limit for the procedure.
Beyond that, the court ruling also ignited concern that enforcement might interfere with handling miscarriages.
Enforcing the 1864 law won't begin for at least two weeks. However, plaintiffs in the case — including Planned Parenthood — said the delay could last up to two months, based on an agreement reached in a related case.
Planned Parenthood has said it will offer abortion services up to 15 weeks of pregnancy for at least two more months, in line with an agreement in the related case.
