A controversial abortion bill that passed out of the Arizona Legislature on party lines last week is now in the hands of Gov. Doug Ducey, who has never vetoed an abortion measure.
The bill bans abortions based on genetic disorders like Down syndrome, and under it, doctors who perform them would face criminal penalties. A similar ban was upheld recently in Ohio but conflicts with other court decisions — all of which could tee up a chance for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Arizona isn’t the only state where lawmakers are taking steps like this. Emboldened by the newly conservative makeup of the Supreme Court, Republicans in right-leaning states across the country are passing a flood of anti-abortion measures. They’re all chasing after the elusive goal of overturning Roe v. Wade with new hope that the majority of justices on the court would now rule in their favor.
Melanie Mason, national political reporter for the Los Angeles Times, has been covering this phenomenon in Arizona and across the country. The Show spoke with her, starting with asking about how prevalent these bills are.
