Democratic Sen. Eva Burch urged her Republican colleagues to consider loosening Arizona’s abortion laws, but they walked out as she said she will terminate her unviable pregnancy, Arizona Mirror reported.
“I don’t think people should have to justify their abortions,” Burch said Monday. “But I’m choosing to talk about why I made this decision because I want us to have meaningful conversations about the reality of how the work that we do in this body impacts people in the real world.”
In an emotional speech, Burch said Republican-passed measures mandated she have a transvaginal ultrasound, listen to her doctor recommend adoption or foster care and wait 24 hours before receiving an abortion.
“The only reason I had to hear those things was a cruel and uninformed attempt by outside forces to shame and coerce and frighten me into making a different decision other than the one I knew was right for me,” she said.
Burch has a history of pregnancy complications: She had an abortion after she miscarried nearly two years ago, when laws were in flux following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. “I call on this legislative body to pass laws that make sure every Arizonan has the opportunity to make decisions that are right for them,” Burch said, asking voters to approve an abortion rights measure that may be on the ballot this fall.
Arizona for Abortion Access, the group behind the initiative, has collected more than half of the required signatures for the effort. Supporters need about 384,000 signatures by July. The proposed amendment would ensure access up to fetal viability with exceptions later in pregnancy to save a patient’s life or their physical or mental health.
The state has a split government: Gov. Katie Hobbs is a Democrat, but Republicans hold a narrow legislative majority. Last week, GOP lawmakers derailed an attempt by Democrats to force a vote on a protective birth control measure.
Despite the tensions between the two parties, one Republican remained on the floor while Burch spoke, according to the Mirror. Sen. Ken Bennett hugged his colleague after she finished.
