A proposed 18-week cap on legal, elective abortions earned a muted victory in committee Wednesday, with two Republicans joining three Democrats in a 7-5 vote to send the bill to the full Utah House for debate.
Freshman Rep. Steve Waldrip, R-Eden, said he philosophically objects to message bills that invite litigation, adding that HB136 would not survive a legal challenge unless and until the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its precedents on abortion rights. And it’s troubling, Waldrip said, for lawmakers to suggest they’re working to preserve the health and safety of Utah women in spite of themselves.
“There’s an arbitrary nature and a paternalistic nature to this that just doesn’t quite sit with me quite yet,” Waldrip said.