Louisiana Legislature approves 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban; Democratic governor to sign

BATON ROUGE, La. – A bill banning abortions in Louisiana once a fetal heartbeat is detected secured final passage in the Legislature here Wednesday just days after a federal judge blocked a similar law in Mississippi.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said he will sign the bill, making Louisiana the fourth state to enact laws banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, generally considered about six weeks.

"It's not a difficult decision for me because I've let people know for a long time that I'm pro-life," Edwards said in an interview with USA TODAY before the vote, which was a foregone conclusion.

"It's consistent with my unblemished pro-life record in my years as a legislator and governor," he said.

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The House vote for passage was 79-23.

Supporters of the bill by Democratic state Sen. John Milkovich were able to fend off an amendment in the House from Democratic Rep. Ted James that would have made exemptions for victims of rape or incest.

Current Louisiana law prevents abortions after 20 weeks.

"We feel like this bill is an important statement about Louisiana's devotion to the unborn," Milkovich said. "This bill is a step forward in our efforts to protect life."

Edwards said he expects the fetal heartbeat law to be challenged in court.

Two previous laws – one from Milkovich banning abortions beyond 15 weeks and another from Democratic Rep. Katrina Jackson requiring doctors performing abortions to have hospital admitting privileges – have been blocked while the courts sort them out.

"At some time I know it will take the courts to decide what, if any, of these measures will go into effect," Edwards said. "But just because laws might be challenged in court doesn't mean we shouldn't advance legislation we believe in that speaks to our values."

Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio are the other states that have approved a fetal heartbeat abortion law, while this spring Alabama passed a law that bans almost all abortions. Missouri's governor signed a bill banning abortion after eight weeks.

The sweeping momentum of states enacting ever more restrictive abortion laws could set the stage to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

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Michelle Erenberg of Lift Louisiana said in a statement the fetal heartbeat bill is an insult to women and a violation of their constitutional rights.

"While it’s not surprising the House would pass a bill that disregards the U.S. Constitution, it does demonstrate what this Legislature is all about," Erenberg said. "They want to control women and their bodies, forcing them to carry out pregnancies even when they are the result of rape or incest.

"It reveals an indifference toward Louisiana women and shows women that the state cares little for them or their families."

Planned Parenthood has scheduled a march on the Capitol Thursday protesting the bill.

But their opposition will fall on mostly deaf ears here, where there are few elected advocates for their cause in a state where restrictive abortion laws draw bipartisan support.

It's the one issue that consistently unites Edwards and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

"Louisiana's heightened sensitivity to abortion truly transcends virtually all other differences among those in the Legislature," Joshua Stockley, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, said in a previous interview.

The state already ranks No. 3 on the Americans United for Life's 2019 Life List as having America's most restrictive abortion laws.

Louisiana abortions fell to the lowest level in a decade in 2018, a trend celebrated by Edwards while others blame restrictive laws for limiting abortion access for women.

“My Catholic Christian faith teaches me to be pro-life,” Edwards said after that data was released in March. "This is personal for (first lady) Donna and me, and we take it very seriously. We are committed to reducing the number of abortions in Louisiana, and the data shows that it is working."

Follow Greg Hilburn on Twitter: @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Monroe News Star: Louisiana Legislature approves 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban; Democratic governor to sign