INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State Senators meet in the Senate chamber while members of the public watch from the gallery in the Indiana State Capitol building on July 25, in Indianapolis. Activists are gathering during a special session of the Indiana state Senate concerning abortion access in the state. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS – Droves of abortion-rights and anti-abortion activists who descended on the Indiana Statehouse Monday, July 25, were opposed to a Republican proposal that would ban virtually all abortions in the state.

The widespread pushback indicates an upward battle for Indiana’s Republican supermajority, which is seeking to limit access to abortions in Indiana after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade opinion in late June.

The General Assembly reconvened for a special legislative session Monday to weigh the abortion ban, as well as financial supports for women, babies and families. Lawmakers will also debate inflation relief for Hoosiers.

The abortion-restricting bill unveiled by Senate Republican leadership last week would ban abortion at conception except for narrow exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, rape, incest and the life of the mother. But lawmakers indicated that could change in the coming days.

Indiana currently allows abortions up to 20 weeks of gestation. If the bill is enacted, the state will have one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. Oklahoma and Missouri ban abortion at conception and the only exception is for the life of the mother. 

Bill author Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange, maintained Monday the legislation won’t impact treatment of miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, or fatal fetal anomalies. The legislation also would not limit access to the “morning after” pill or any forms of contraception. 

The bill’s current language would allow the procedure in instances of rape, but only until 20 weeks of gestation, as outlined in current state law.

Democratic Sen. Shelli Yoder of Bloomington argued that girls may not “even be within the realm of understanding” that they’ve endured abuse. When she asked whether a girl who becomes pregnant after rape or incest could receive an abortion six months after conception, Glick said that would not be allowed under the current parameters of the bill.

“If their sole reason for the abortion is because of a rape, they knew there was a rape early on, and they knew that they were pregnant, much quicker than the late-term abortion,” Glick said. “Being pro-life is not about criminalizing women. It’s about preserving the dignity of life and helping mothers bring happy and healthy babies into the world.”

Current Indiana law makes it a crime for a doctor to perform an illegal abortion and under the bill most abortions would be illegal. There are no criminal penalties for women who seek abortions in the bill.

Still, Glick said that could change as early as Tuesday.

“This bill is a framework,” Glick said. “One of the criticisms of our bill has been the lack of criminal penalties, and so I think you’re going to see amendments in regard. We’re here to listen to testimony and hear what those ideas and thoughts are.”

She told reporters late Monday that lawmakers “certainly aren’t going to agree 100%,” but emphasized that their goal is “to reach the right result.”

Scores of people crammed into the Statehouse – and hundreds more took over sidewalks and streets outside — as public testimony began in the Senate chamber on Monday.

Katie Blair, advocacy and public policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, said Hoosiers showed up to fight against the elimination of “a crucial aspect of reproductive healthcare.”

“It is not up to the government to make these decisions for Hoosiers,” Blair said. “Forcing someone to carry a pregnancy against their will has life-altering consequences.”

Dr. Amy Caldwell, an OBGYN representing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said her colleagues are “fearful to do their jobs,” noting that language in the bill is “unclear” and could put in jeopardy the licenses of medical professionals who perform abortions for any reason.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of abortions. The solution is not to ban them,” Blair said, emphasizing that the solution is access to “comprehensive contraception.”

“Abortion is common. It is safe,” she continued. “All of the proposed restrictions in Senate Bill 1 are unnecessary and harmful.”

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections.

See the original story posted here.