The NM Political Report
Susan Dunlap
The House Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill that would decriminalize abortion by a vote of 8 to 3, including one Republican who crossed the aisle.
State House Rep. Phelps Anderson, a Republican from Roswell, sided with the seven Democrats on the committee who voted yes to HB 7. Just before the bill went to vote, Anderson expressed some of his views.
“Many people who have spoken to me have expressed strong opinions but I find myself saying I’m not sure one voting yes or no changes anything that is very important to me and, secondly, the issues that have been raised are not encompassed within this bill,” Anderson said.
HB 7 will, if it passes the full New Mexico Legislature, repeal a law written in 1969. The law bans abortion except for cases of incest, rape, the life of the patient or severe mental or physical problems for the fetus. The law is not enforceable because of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision. . . . [Full text]
The report is inaccurate with respect to the enforceability of the law. A protection of conscience provision in the 1969 law is fully enforceable, and it appears that the repeal of this is what is causing concern among some opponents of the bill. See New Mexico legislation and freedom of conscience for health care practitioners: Effect of pending bills on abortion and assisted suicide