Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature have amended a sweeping anti-abortion bill to satisfy concerns of a lone GOP senator who voted against the measure earlier this month.
The abortion bill as originally written made it a felony for a doctor to perform the procedure because the fetus has a genetic abnormality like Down syndrome, and contained a slew of other provisions no exception for survivors of rape or incest. A new amendment tacked on in a conference committee Monday makes it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion if the sole reason the woman seeks it is because the fetus has a genetic abnormality — providing a loophole for women who can simply say they want an elective abortion. It also clarifies the definition of a lethal fetal abnormality. The amendment clears the way for the House and Senate to give final approval and send it to Republican Governor Doug Ducey, an abortion opponent who has never vetoed a piece of anti-abortion legislation.