BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted a budget amendment Thursday to expand access to legal abortions, including for minors. It's a win for abortion rights advocates in the state.
The win comes as concerns grow over the future of Roe V. Wade, which legalized abortion across the United States.
Democratic Representative Claire Cronin, of Easton, said the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the appointment of a new conservative court justice led to a renewed push to ensure women have access to safe abortions in Massachusetts.
The amendment passed on a 108 to 49 vote. It expands access to abortions beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy if there are fetal anomalies and the baby is not expected to survive.
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"What this amendment does do is lower the age that a minor can make their own decisions regarding her pregnancy without having to go before a judge," Cronin said.
This will also allow 16 year olds to access an abortion without parental or judicial permission.
Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones was opposed to the budget amendment.
Senate Democrats are expected to bring their own budget amendment on abortions next week.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports
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(Mario Jarjour/WBZ NewsRadio)