Another sellout is no surprise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The soon-to-be-ex-governor has vetoed<\/a> a bill<\/a> that would have prohibited future governors from handing over abortion providers, helpers, and patients to red states for criminal prosecution. The bill also would have barred extraditions involving transgender care. Newsom\u2019s decision was \u201cincredibly disappointing\u201d and \u201ccertainly not what we were expecting,\u201d says Pavitra Abraham, director of state campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The veto of AB 2164<\/a>\u2014also known as the Care Without Fear Act\u2014has alarmed reproductive rights advocates around the country because of California\u2019s critical role in preserving abortion access since the Dobbs<\/em> decision overturned Roe v. Wade<\/em> in 2022. The state is home to telemedicine providers, mail-order pharmacies, research<\/a> organizations<\/a>, and other groups<\/a> that have helped keep abortion pills flowing<\/a> even to the most conservative parts of the US.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Much of that abortion infrastructure is built on so-called shield laws<\/a> that protect reproductive care across state lines. California has some of the most robust shield laws in the nation, protecting providers, helpers and patients from out-of-state legal action over abortion and gender-affirming care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ….<\/p>\n\n\n\n Becerra\u2019s widening lead<\/a> in the polls doesn\u2019t mean a ban on extraditions shouldn\u2019t be codified, the bill\u2019s supporters counter. \u201cThat mentality of people saying, \u2018It\u2019s going to be fine, a Democrat\u2019s going to win, it\u2019s California, blah blah blah\u2019\u2014it\u2019s just really dangerous,\u201d Abraham says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCalifornia cannot call itself a safe haven for reproductive freedom,\u201d she adds, \u201cwhile leaving abortion providers just one election away from extradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Newsom still has not acted on several<\/a> other important reproductive-related bills this session, including AB 2540<\/a>, which would make medication abortion more available to community college students in the state, and AB 1973<\/a>, which would expand the ability of non-physicians to provide abortion care.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n