by Lydia Fielder
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas legislators have drafted a bill that, if passed, will ban abortion in the state, but only if the constitutional right to an abortion is overturned.
Today the House Public Health Committee backed a proposal to outlaw abortion in the Arkansas, except for medical emergencies, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized the procedure nationally. This ban is supported by conservatives who said they are hopeful of more conservative measures in wake of Donald Trump’s two Supreme Court appointees.
“This bill is one of the ‘fluff’ bills that legislators draft and vote on so they can go home and tell their constituents they voted to end abortion in Arkansas, knowing nothing will likely come of the bill,” said Hannah Butler, a second year University of Arkansas law student. “Trump would definitely need to put one more super conservative judge on the Court before that could even begin to be a possibility.”
The Senate approved the measure last week with a 29-6 vote.