News
WY Governor Mark Gordon Allows Several Pro-Life Bills To Become Law
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon took further steps to implement a pro-life policy agenda when he signed a prohibition on chemical abortions.
At the same time, he allowed House Bill 152 – Life is a Human Right Act to go into law (Click here to view).
But he expressed concern that this new law will only result in a new lawsuit, which will delay any
resolution to the constitutionality of the abortion ban in Wyoming.
On Friday (March 17th), plaintiffs in the current lawsuit filed a legal challenge of this new law in the event the Act was not vetoed.
The Governor says that since the Legislature continues to make minor tweaks in the abortion law each year, it only leads to additional delays in obtaining a final decision from the courts about Wyoming’s
Constitution.
Governor Gordon stressed that if the Legislature wants finality it should put a constitutional amendment before the people and let them decide if they want to add an abortion ban to the state’s constitution.
The Governor has a strong pro-life record, including signing Senate File 109 – Prohibiting Chemical Abortion (Click here to view), Senate File 79–Plan of safe care-newborns (Click here to view), and last year’s House Enrolled Act No. 57 Abortion prohibition-supreme court decision (Click here to view), as well as House Bill 4 – Medicaid twelve-month postpartum coverage (Click here to view), which extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 low-income Wyoming mothers.
“I understand the Legislature’s effort to improve Wyoming’s pro-life legal framework and preemptively clarify some of these legal questions with HEA 0088’s various legislative findings,” the
Governor wrote. “However, I believe this question needs to be decided as soon as possible so that the issue of abortion in Wyoming can be finally resolved, and that is best done with a vote of the people.”
While he understands the intent of the legislative findings included in Life is a Human Right Act, the Governor said he does not feel these are a, “substitute for an expression of the people when it comes to
constitutional matters.”
“If the Legislature wants to expressly address how the Wyoming Constitution treats abortion and defines healthcare, then those issues should be vetted through the amendment process laid out in Article 20 of
the Wyoming Constitution and voted on directly by the people,” the Governor wrote.
Click here to view the Governor’s letter
mark steingass
March 20, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Gordon nauseates me with his recent statement about “extensive prayer” before he signed this bill last Friday as much as Mike Pence does with his “I will pray for you” statements…with all the right wing politicians in abundance I guess we don’t need to be concerned about anything because they are all out there praying and will protect all of us…they should all stay out of politics and become religious monks. Park County Republican Rachael Rodriguez sponsored this bill and recently stated… “Wyoming is a pro-life state, affirming that life is a human right and ensuring that women have real support,”…all I can ask representative Rodriguez is what support?…the legislature has failed time and time again to expand Medicaid which would support the welfare for the unwanted births brought forth as a result of this bill. This bill may very well impact the decision process of many women as to whether they wish to remain in Wyoming..especially for those women who have experienced or their close friends have experienced an unwanted pregnancy…after an unwanted birth there will be social and personal implications for men, women and their children as well..problematic visitation problems, custody problems, conflict between parents…an environment of increased instability…this “blanket bill” does not improve all the lives this bill impacts. This bill only makes lives more complicated and will foster an atmosphere of emigration where highly trained doctors, medical professionals and individuals alike are motivated to leave Wyoming. The Equality State…except men and especially women who have lost the right and the freedom to make a personal choice they could have made before these abortion restriction laws were signed into law.
Ronnie LeBlanc
March 20, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Its not a choice, its a child. Think about that.
mark steingass
March 21, 2023 at 9:34 am
also think about expanding Medicaid for the support and welfare for the increased number of births and think about all the increased personal and social complications and think about a state referendum vote on the issue of abortion
Debbie Davis
March 21, 2023 at 9:20 am
Mark, House Bill 4 – Medicaid twelve-month postpartum coverage which extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 low-income Wyoming mothers. If a person doesn’t want to become pregnant then PREVENT it. How about adoption vs abortion! There are other options than opposing the human rights of an unborn child!
mark steingass
March 21, 2023 at 11:28 am
Reply to Debbie Davis…House Bill 4 is far from sufficient…that bill is an insufficient attempt to make the legislature appear to be kindhearted. Child support by Wyoming law ends when a child reaches the age of majority (18 years old)….Twelve months of Medicaid support is inadequate. Many have advocated for decades that Medicaid should be expanded. I agree with you about preventing unwanted pregnancy however not all preventative measures go as planned. Condoms fail, tracking menstrual cycles (rhythm method) or IUD’s may help but only if everything goes perfectly. If adoption was a simple solution then abortion would not be such a contested issue. I agree with Governor Gordon there should be a referendum vote on the entire issue of abortion.