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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 4 augusT 2022

Continued from Front themselves in court with ev-
On Tuesday, Kansas vot- idence that the procedure
ers decisively defeated an was necessary because
amendment to the state of an immediate medical
constitution that would emergency.
have allowed lawmakers to "That language gives no in-
impose restrictions on abor- dication of how imminent,
tion — or even a ban. The or substantial, the risk of
conservative state was the death must be in order for
first in the nation to have a provider to feel confi-
a ballot question on abor- dent" performing the abor-
tion since Roe v. Wade was tion, said Alan Schoenfeld,
overturned. the attorney representing
Bans on abortion at any the plaintiffs told the jus-
point in pregnancy are be- tices Wednesday. "Sup-
ing enforced in eight states pose a patient with pulmo-
and as soon as fetal car- nary hypertension has a 30
diac activity can be de- to 50% risk of dying … is that
tected – generally around enough?"
six weeks' gestation – in The doctor and abortion
another five. And most or rights group argue that
all clinics have stopped of- the law allowing potential
fering abortion services in a relatives of an embryo or
handful of additional states Vice President Kamala Harris, right, speaks in the Indian Treaty Room on the White House complex fetus to sue abortion pro-
because of legal uncer- in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, on securing access to reproductive and other health viders wrongly takes en-
during the first meeting of the interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access. Presi-
tainty. dent Joe Biden attends virtually and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, left, and forcement of a state law
Abortion rights groups, Attorney General Merrick Garland, center, attend in person. and puts it in the hands of
which have spent decades Associated Press individuals instead of state
in courts trying to preserve entities, a violation of the
access, are continuing the that period, the legal fight of a fetus or embryo to sue pregnant person or in cas- separation of government
fight even in places such did allow some patients ac- medical providers who per- es of rape or incest, the ex- powers. The law allows the
as Idaho, where they're un- cess. Rachel Sussman, vice form an abortion. A third ceptions set a very high bar father, grandparents, sib-
likely to prevail in the long president of state policy law expected to take ef- that experts say will be dif- lings, aunts and uncles of
run. In several cases, judges and advocacy for Planned fect on Aug. 19 would ban ficult to meet. For instance, a "preborn child" to each
have paused enforcement Parenthood, said that the abortions for pregnancies people using the rape or in- sue an abortion provider
of bans, allowing at least goal is to remove all barri- beyond six weeks of ges- cest exception will have to for a minimum of $20,000 in
some abortions to contin- ers to abortion access, but tation and was not sched- report the crime to law en- damages within four years
ue, at least for a time. that partial victories can uled to be part of Wednes- forcement and then show after the abortion. Rapists
In Kentucky, where en- help women, too. "What- day's hearing. that report to the abortion can't file a lawsuit under
forcement of a ban has ever access we are able to It quickly became clear provider — but it often the law, but relatives of
stopped and started mul- maintain, we are going to that the three laws are in- takes weeks or months to rapists could.
tiple times since June, en- fight for it," she said. tertwined. Justice Robin obtain a copy of a newly In court Wednesday, Daniel
forcement was allowed to In the Idaho cases, Dr. Cait- Brody noted that the laws filed police report under Bower, a lawyer represent-
resume with a ruling Mon- lin Gustafson and Planned refer to one another and Idaho's public record laws. ing the Legislature, urged
day. Parenthood Great North- even have language to The total abortion ban the state's justices to end
And in Louisiana, there west, Hawaii, Alaska, Indi- make clear which would would allow health care a stay preventing enforce-
were about 610 abortions ana, Kentucky are suing take precedent if all three providers to be charged ment of the laws.
per month in 2021. With the state over three laws. were in effect. with a crime even if the "Because of that stay, pre-
the shifting status, 249 were One that would take effect Though the six-week abor- abortion is the only way to born children are being
reported from June 24 on Aug. 25 would effective- tion ban both contain ex- save their patient's life — killed in Idaho, contrary to
through July 29. While that's ly ban all abortions. Anoth- ceptions for procedures but the health care provid- duly enacted and wholly
far fewer than normal in er allows potential relatives done to save the life of the ers could then try to defend valid statutes," he said.q

Number of uninsured Americans drops to record low

Washington (AP) — The ter Democrats hammered that lowered premiums
number of people living in out a 725-page climate, and out-of-pocket costs for
America without health in- health care and tax deal new or returning customers
surance coverage hit an that would extend gener- purchasing plans through
all-time low of 8 percent ous federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act's
this year, the U.S. Depart- people who buy private private health insurance
ment of Health and Human health insurance that markets.
Services announced Tues- are credited with driving The uninsured rate fell to
day. down the uninsured rates. just under 9 percent last
"Every American has the Democrats have proposed year with the improved
right to the peace of mind spending $64 billion to ex- subsidies. The Biden ad-
that comes with access to tend those price breaks for ministration also began to
affordable, quality health three more years. step up advertising and
care," President Joe Biden The drop in uninsured increased the number of
said in a statement Tuesday Americans began last counselors who helped
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks about the record-low rate year, when Congress and sign up people for plans
during a news conference June 28, 2022, in Washington. of uninsured Americans. Biden signed off on a $1.9 during the open enrollment
Associated Press The findings come days af- trillion coronavirus relief bill season last year.q