The Arizona Senate is poised Wednesday to cap three weeks of roiling debate over abortion as lawmakers consider repeal of a near-total abortion ban dating from 1864.
Indications are the closely divided Republican-controlled Senate will approve the repeal with not a vote to spare.
Arizona has been center stage of the national abortion debate ever since an April 9 state Supreme Court ruling upheld the 1864 law. It bans abortions in all cases, except to save the life of the mother, and imposes prison terms for doctors or others who aid in an abortion.
The ruling has divided the GOP majority at the statehouse, with a handful of Republicans in both chambers willing to join with Democrats to repeal a 160-year-old law that they feel is unreasonable and inappropriate for current times.
It’s also galvanized anti-abortion advocates and propelled Republicans to explore other abortion policies. GOP lawmakers are toying with the idea of presenting ballot measures that could compete with an expected citizen initiative that would allow abortions up until the point of viability, generally viewed as 22 to 24 weeks.