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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 20 april 2018
Some GOP officials urge charges for women who get abortions

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI swift condemnation from
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Anti- groups who fight for abor-
abortion rhetoric is inten- tion rights.
sifying ahead of midterm "What's pro-life about con-
elections as officials in Re- victing women of first-de-
publican-dominant states gree murder for accessing
push legislation that would abortion care? Absolutely
punish both doctors and nothing," national nonprofit
patients, even though such NARAL Pro-Choice Ameri-
laws are likely unconstitu- ca said in a statement. "It's
tional. no surprise that the party
In Idaho, Republicans com- that claims to be pro-life
peting in a crowded field supports a guy who wants
for governor have made to impose the death pen-
it a major campaign is- alty on women accessing
sue ahead of the May 15 health care."
primary. One candidate One of Nonini's Republican
promised to back a long- opponents, former state
shot effort that would allow Rep. Janice McGeachin,
women to be prosecuted responded at the forum
for getting abortions, and that she opposed abortion
another offered tepid sup- but did not believe women
port but doubted it would In this Jan. 5, 2018, file photo, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little, left, with Gov C.L. "Butch" Otter listening, should be killed for having
survive a legal challenge. speaks at the State Capitol building in Boise, Idaho. the procedure.
Politicians in states from Associated Press Top Idaho GOP guberna-
Ohio to Oklahoma are torial candidate Tommy
pushing similar measures boldened to support the Roe v. Wade will soon be ers and women who end Ahlquist said at another
or promising to criminal- idea without facing back- overruled if Trump gets the pregnancies with first-de- forum months earlier that
ize abortion as they seek lash from their conservative chance to appoint a jus- gree murder, but it doesn't he would support legisla-
office. It comes despite base. tice who would cast the appear it will qualify for tion allowing women to be
courts temporarily block- Supporters of punitive leg- deciding vote against it. the November ballot. The prosecuted for abortions.
ing stringent laws passed islation say that believing In the meantime, a push group has not yet submit- He was responding to a
recently in Mississippi and abortion is murder means for legislation punishing ted any signatures to be question from a Republi-
Kentucky. the act must be punished women has taken hold in verified before an April 30 can lawmaker who wants
Targeting patients for pun- as such, which could in- Idaho, which has passed deadline. to push such legislation but
ishment is a stance that clude life in prison or the anti-abortion measures al- Idaho candidates also hasn't introduced it at the
traditionally has raised eye- death penalty. most every year. A handful have voiced their support Statehouse.
brows even from staunch The stance openly defies of bills have failed to stand for punishing women. This Ahlquist's campaign has
anti-abortion groups that the U.S. Supreme Court, up to legal challenges. month, a GOP lieutenant since reiterated his stance
tend to treat women as which has ruled that a This year, Idaho required governor candidate said to The Associated Press, as-
victims, not criminals, for woman has the right to women seeking abortions during a forum that "any- suming lawmakers passed
choosing to end a preg- choose an abortion without to be informed that the one who has an abortion the measure.
nancy. "undue interference" from drug-induced procedures should pay." His challenger, Lt. Gov.
However, with President the state. It also conflicts can be halted halfway, de- State Sen. Bob Nonini later Brad Little, also said at the
Donald Trump's administra- with other anti-abortion ad- spite opposition from medi- softened his position, clari- forum that he would like to
tion embracing anti-abor- vocates. Many Catholics, cal groups that say there is fying that the threat of sign such a measure into
tion groups and promising for example, oppose both little evidence to support prosecution could drasti- law but acknowledged
to appoint federal judges abortion and the death that claim. cally reduce abortion but that it might not stand up
who will favor efforts to penalty. The group Abolish Abor- he did not believe women in court. Little also said he
roll back abortion rights, The high court legalized tion Idaho has launched would actually face the "probably would" support it
Republican state leaders abortion in 1973, but anti- a ballot initiative seeking death penalty. but had not seen anything
have become more em- abortion advocates hope to charge abortion provid- His comment attracted in writing.q

EPA watchdog opens latest

investigation into Pruitt security

WASHINGTON (AP) — The time security detail at times Rose Bowl.
internal watchdog at the when he wasn't traveling Elkins office is now con-
Environmental Protection for any official purpose. The ducting at least a half doz-
Agency has launched yet review was requested by en audits and investiga-
another investigation of Democratic Sen. Sheldon tions related to Pruitt and
travel and security spend- Whitehouse of Rhode Is- his security team. Separate
ing involving embattled land, who raised concerns reviews are also underway
administrator Scott Pruitt. about EPA security spend- by Congressional oversight
EPA Inspector General Ar- ing during a family vaca- committees, the Office of
In this Feb. 12, 2018, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency thur Elkins wrote in a letter tion in which Pruitt went to Government Ethics and the
Administrator Scott Pruitt attends a meeting at the White House
in Washington. that his office will review Disneyland and attended White House.
spending by Pruitt's full- a football game at the q