Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law significant pro-life legislation Monday, signaling a positive new direction from her predecessor and long-sought victory for life advocates.
While former Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed every abortion-limiting bill sent to her during six years in office, Brewer has already signed several pro-life measures in her first year as governor. These new laws include a ban on partial-birth abortion, a ban that prevents medical professionals other than doctors from performing surgical abortions, and a bill that protects the conscience rights of healthcare workers to refuse participation in an abortion.
Of particular note, the Abortion Consent Act – which strengthens parental-consent provisions, requires a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, and requires physicians to fully inform women about the risks of abortion – capped a 13-year effort to pass an informed-consent law in Arizona.
"Governor Brewer has shown Arizonans that she cares about the values that matter most to them: protecting life and protecting families," said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy. "These bills protect women, children, parents and the civil rights of health-care workers."
— Kristin Darr
