“I’m Here…to Represent Jesus Christ”: Arizona Republicans Block Second Attempt to Repeal Civil War–Era Abortion Ban

After the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a 1864 law banning virtually all abortions, including in cases of incest and rape, the response across the country was deafening, and not in a good way. From people who believe in reproductive rights, sure, but also from many Republicans, including Donald Trump, who fear the move will cost the party elections. It went “too far,” the man who brags about killing Roe v. Wade told reporters, adding, desperately, “I’m sure that the governor and everybody else are going to bring it back into reason.” But a week later, things have not been brought back “into reason,” because Republicans in the state are apparently intent on letting the barbaric law stand.

On Wednesday, Arizona Republicans blocked the second effort in two weeks to repeal the Civil War–era abortion ban. According to The New York Times, after GOP lawmakers initially resisted Democratic efforts to reverse the law last week, “cajoling” from Trump and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake* looked like it was going to translate to an about-face this week, with Democrats signaling “that they were optimistic of having enough Republican support to secure a majority and send the repeal bill to the State Senate.” But after a Democratic lawmaker attempted to bring forward legislation to repeal the ban, Republicans blocked it on procedural grounds, preventing a vote on the floor. “The fact that we will not even entertain a motion to allow those who have been raped or pregnant by incest to be able to have an abortion is extremely, extremely disappointing,” state representative Alma Hernandez said Wednesday. “Why won’t these cowards allow the vote to come to the floor?” Rolande Baker, who was sitting in the gallery, asked the Times. “What are they afraid of, that it might just pass? That Arizona just might get ourselves out of the year 1864? Before the end of the Civil War? Before women had a right to vote?”

House Speaker Ben Toma, apparently unconcerned with the Arizonans who may need abortions now, said: “The last thing we should be doing today is rushing a bill through the legislative process to repeal a law that has been enacted and reaffirmed by the Legislature several times.” Even more alarming—for those who not only believe in reproductive freedom but that pesky idea of separation of church and state—were the remarks from Ka’rin Royster, an Arizona Republican Party precinct committee member. “I’m here, before representing the people in my precinct, to represent Jesus Christ,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be picture-perfect for people to get pregnant.”

Should Republicans continue to block efforts to repeal the law, voters may have a chance to do it themselves, as signatures are currently being gathered to get a ballot measure enshrining abortion access in the state constitution on the November ballot.

*Who initially supported the law, then lied about supporting it, and now openly opposes it.

And if there’s one thing that’s as good as gold, it’s Donald Trump’s word

Republicans will, uh, get back to y’all on that one

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