And the near total civil war era ban that continues to hang over our
heads only serves to create more chaos for women and doctors in our state
as governor,
I promised I would do everything in my power to protect our reproductive freedoms.
Here's what I've done so far and how we can continue to
work together to end this never ending assault on our basic rights.
First,
my executive order removing the ability of county attorneys
to prosecute women and doctors for performing abortions remains,
I refuse to allow extremist county prosecutors to use this abortion ban
to lock up women and doctors seeking or providing needed health care.
Second,
my administration has expanded access to over the counter contraceptives.
Today,
Arizonans across the state can walk into their pharmacy
to obtain birth control medication without a doctor's prescription.
Third,
last year,
I vetoed legislation that would have threatened access to IVF and
potentially endangered access to any and all abortions in our state
and any other legislation that threatens to take away our
rights will continue to be met with my veto stamp.
Fourth,
I am calling on the legislature to do the right thing
right now. And repeal this 1864 ban and protect access to reproductive health care.
The Republican majority in the legislature has time and
again refused to act to protect our freedoms.
They have refused to repeal the civil war,
extreme civil war near total abortion ban.
In fact,
the senate president and House speaker fought in this
very case to keep this extreme ban in place.
And as it stands, they might have their way,
They have refused to act to protect IVF and contraception.
Instead, they tell women to put aspirin between their knees.
Well, I'm proud to be a backstop to their extremism.
Arizona women should never have to fear the next court decision.
It's why I'm proud to be standing here with Senator
Birch and Representative Stall Hamilton and these other
legislators who are dedicated to protecting our freedoms.
We are 14 days away from this extreme ban coming back to life.
It must be repealed
immediately.
And while I'm glad IVF and contraception are still available to Arizonans,
we know they are under attack
just last year, I vetoed a bill that would have threatened access to VF
we must act proactively to protect these essential rights.
Finally,
this November Arizonans may have an opportunity to
make their voices heard on this important issue
to the people across Arizona who are concerned
about the future of abortion rights in our state
who are worried about their bodily autonomy,
who don't want to see the freedom of their wives, sisters and daughters restricted.
You can make your concerns known at the ballot box and I encourage you to do so.
Now I'm going to hand it over to Representative Stall Hamilton. Thank you.
Good morning.
Thank you,
Governor Hobbs for the work that you are doing and what you
will continue to do to protect our rights and our freedoms.
Thank you all for being here.
This is
a devastating day,
but we are far from being defeated.
How,
how can we be defeated
when the vast majority of Arizonans?
Nine out of 10 support the right to get an abortion
and want government out of our reproductive health care decisions.
The DC A Supreme Court chose and
chose chaos
and immediate chaos fear legal jeopardy
for tens of thousands of everyday Arizonans
and our medical professionals whose health care
decisions within 14 days could be superseded by
a law passed during the civil war.
Decades before Arizona became a state and before women had the right to vote.
Republicans will not stop here.
Every Republican in the legislature supported this decision,
not you.
And this is evidenced by the speaker of the House
and Senate President submitting an amicus brief on their behalf,
arguing for the civil war era ban.
This is not the end of our fight now is the time to continue
our work together to repeal this ban
beginning with passing the Arizona right to
contraception act to ensure Arizonans hold on
to their rights to make their own decisions about when to start a family
with no government interference
efforts ramping up around the country illustrate
the contraception is next.
I know that there is an initiative out there
gathering signatures to codify abortion rights in our state
and I felt it would pass with overwhelming numbers.
Now,
I have no doubt.
I am proud to stand with the governor
and my legislative colleagues who have your back.
This, this is the beginning of putting our anger to work.
Find a friend, grab a neighbor or relative sign the petition,
collect signatures and remind our government
of the political will of our people. They don't get
to have the final word.
Thank you.
Good morning.
I'm state senator of a birch.
A couple weeks ago,
I had an abortion,
a safe legal abortion
here in Arizona
for a pregnancy
that I very much wanted
a pregnancy that failed
like many of my pregnancies before it
an embryo that was dying and a miscarriage
that was destined to happen.
Somebody took care of me.
Somebody gave me a procedure so that I wouldn't have to experience
another miscarriage,
the pain,
the mess, the discomfort.
And now we're talking about whether or not we should put that doctor in jail.
This is outrageous
that we would even dignify
the consideration
of this type of ban.
A ban drafted
when women had no say
when Arizona was not a state,
this isn't what the people of Arizona or the people of this country want.
We're talking about
a small number
of really extreme political leaders
calling the shots
for everybody else.
Republicans don't want this
independents don't want this
Democrats don't want this.
We have to look at who our elected leaders are.
The time is now. It's done.
I've had enough. The people of Arizona have had enough.
We are electing pro-choice candidates in November.
Watch it happen.
That's all I have to say.
Ok,
I'm not a legislator. Uh
but I'm here because I signed the Governor's brief in this case.
And I'm deeply saddened,
sorry
by the court's decision.
I participated in this brief because
I caught a glimpse firsthand of what happens when
abortion is inaccessible and you need one.
We simply can't tolerate this in our state, Arizona
that we all love and call home.
My husband and I
were surprised to learn that we were pregnant
just three weeks after our wedding
and shocked when we discovered that it was twins,
we couldn't contain ourselves and immediately told everyone.
We were even picking out names and looking at wallpaper for their nursery.
They were so loved
for our anatomy scan. Our friends placed bets on their genders
and we learned that our twins were a girl and a boy.
We also learned that our boy twin b had a
critical heart defect that was pumping blood into his lungs.
Our joy turned into despair.
They scheduled a follow up and we went
home nervous wrecks but trying to remain positive,
our doctor explained that this was very serious
that I might not be able to carry this pregnancy to term
and that it was high risk for our healthy twin. And also for me,
she explained the process of a selective reduction,
a specialized procedure that would stop the heart of twin B
and allow me to continue to carry twin A to term.
The doctor was working to arrange this for us.
But the one facility she knew to provide, it
was
not able to,
this procedure was technically legal at the time.
But reproductive health care is generally scarce in a state like Arizona
where a doctor's freedom to safely provide or even recommend abortion care
is constantly under threat
since that facility could not help us and the clock was ticking.
Our doctor, let us know that she was calling physicians.
She knew all over the country
and that we may need to travel to New York or DC.
We were relieved when she finally let us know that she
found a doctor in L A who could help us.
And so in March of 2020 as the world was shutting down,
I was 20 weeks along in my twin pregnancy
and we were able to get the care we needed in L A,
the selective reduction procedure took place safely in an operating
room in a hospital because it is health care.
It was $9000 upfront and out of pocket,
we went home where I carried our healthy baby and our
dead baby for the remaining harrowing four months of my pregnancy
before going into labor and delivering both of them.
It was an otherwise safe normal vaginal delivery.
My experience was traumatic
but could have been so much worse had I not been able to access the care that I needed.
I'm grateful every day that I was able to,
but I should not have had to leave the state for that.
Many Arizonans might not be able to say the same and nobody should have to thank you
if
you can please
raise your
hands.
All right, you have just been listening to reaction from this very big decision.
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled today
that all elective abortions are now illegal.
This means that doctors will be on notice that
all abortions except those necessary to save a woman's life
are now illegal. You can see
Governor Hobbs her emotional reaction to this.
She is saying that she has asked the Arizona legislature to repeal that law.
This was a very lengthy ruling from the Arizona Supreme Court.
Basically stating that criminal and regulatory sanctions
may apply to abortions performed after 15 weeks of gestation.
Again, the bottom line, this decision goes back to the pre civil war
law
that allows abortions to remain in effect.
We've heard from Arizona Attorney General, Chris Mays who is a Democrat.
She has quickly condemned today's decision by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Governor Hobbs right now, uh taking some reporter questions,
but she has said earlier
that this is extreme that it hurts women and
that she promises to protect reproductive freedoms.
Again,
this has been a very emotional reaction from leaders from
our Arizona leaders as well as Governor Hobbs politically.
This will have a very big effect on November's election.
Of course,
12 news will continue to bring you coverage on this
very historic abortion ruling all day on air online at
12 news.com and on all streaming platforms will be back on the air during the
noon hour and again for 12 news at one with more in depth analysis.
Now we return you back to regular programming.