Aug 13, 2022 3 min read Politics

Indiana Passes First Post-Roe Abortion Ban

On the heels of Kansas voters rejecting a measure to remove abortion rights from their state's constitution, Indiana lawmakers pass the nation's first abortion ban since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Indiana’s new sweeping ban on abortion produced immediate political and economic fallout Saturday, as some of the state’s biggest employers objected to the restrictions, Democratic leaders strategized ways to amend or repeal the law, and abortion rights activists made plans to arrange alternative locations for women seeking procedures, writes The Washington Post.

Coming just three days after voters in Kansas rejected a ballot measure to strip abortion rights protections from the state's constitution, the Indiana law, which the Republican-controlled state legislature passed late Friday night and Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed moments later, was the first state ban passed since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June and was celebrated as a major victory by abortion foes.

Abortion law in Indiana leads to fallout for state, politics (The Washington Post)

Excerpt from The Washington Post: The vote in Indiana capped weeks of fraught debate in Indianapolis, where activists demonstrated at the Statehouse and waged intense lobbying campaigns as Republican lawmakers debated how far the law should go in restricting abortion. Some abortion foes hailed the law’s passage as a road map for conservatives in other states pushing similar bans in the aftermath of the high court’s decision on Roe, which had guaranteed for the past 50 years the right to abortion care. The Indiana ban, which goes into effect Sept. 15, allows abortion only in cases of rape, incest, lethal fetal abnormality, or when the procedure is necessary to prevent severe health risks or death. Indiana joins nine other states that have abortion bans starting at conception.

Embed from Getty Images

According to The New York Times, the law passed despite dividing Indiana Republicans, with some of them saying the measure was too restrictive while others objected to limited exceptions for rape and incest. This is similar to the rest of the country where Republicans have moved slowly and have struggled to speak with a unified voice on what comes next.

Indiana Governor Signs First Post-Roe Abortion Ban, With Limited Exceptions (The New York Times)

Excerpt from The New York Times: Lawmakers in South Carolina and West Virginia have weighed but taken no final action on proposed bans. Officials in Iowa, Florida, Nebraska and other conservative states have so far not taken legislative action. And especially in the last few weeks, some Republican politicians have recalibrated their messaging on the issue. "West Virginia tried it, and they stepped back from the ledge. Kansas tried it, and the voters resoundingly rejected it," State Representative Justin Moed, a Democrat from Indianapolis, said on the House floor before voting against the bill. "Why is that? Because up until now it has just been a theory. It was easy for people to say they were pro-life. It was easy to see things so black and white. But now, that theory has become reality, and the consequences of the views are more real."

Embed from Getty Images

Shortly after the law's passage, drug-maker Eli Lilly, one of the biggest employers in Indiana, said that the state’s newly passed law restricting abortions will cause the company to grow away from its home turf, reports CNBC. Lilly employs about 10,000 people in Indiana, where it has been headquartered in Indianapolis for more than 145 years.

Lilly said in a statement on Saturday that it recognizes abortion as a "divisive and deeply personal issue with no clear consensus among the citizens of Indiana. Despite this lack of agreement, Indiana has opted to quickly adopt one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the United States. We are concerned that this law will hinder Lilly’s — and Indiana’s — ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world. Given this new law, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state."

Large Indiana employers Eli Lilly and Cummins speak out about the state’s new restrictive abortion law (CNBC)

Excerpt from CNBC: Cummins, an engine manufacturing company that also employs about 10,000 people in Indiana, spoke out over the weekend against the new law as well. "The right to make decisions regarding reproductive health ensures that women have the same opportunity as others to participate fully in our workforce and that our workforce is diverse. There are provisions in the law that conflict with this, impact our people, impede our ability to attract and retain top talent and influence our decisions as we continue to grow our footprint with a focus on selecting welcoming and inclusive environments," said the statement.

Embed from Getty Images

Jump to this week's edition of:
World News
US News
Politics
Culture
Business
Innovation

Return to Home

You might also like...

Republicans Gain Control of the House while Nancy Pelosi Steps Down as Democratic Leader

Democrats Defy History in Landmark Midterm Election

Brazil's President Does Not Concede Election Loss but Signals Cooperation

British Prime Minister Resigns amid Market Meltdown

Political Fallout Continues from Leaked Recording of LA Council Members