AUGUSTA, Maine — As several states continue to push back and forth on abortion rights, a bill that would have protected the right to an abortion in the Maine Constitution was blocked in the House of Representatives earlier this week.
Presented by Sen. Eloise Vitelli and co-sponsored by Rep. Sophia Warren, the bill would have started the process to enshrine the right to an abortion, or reproductive autonomy, into the state constitution as an amendment.
The bill failed to get the two-thirds majority needed in the House and Senate for it to proceed. Had it received that majority, the amendment would have been subject to voter approval in a referendum.
"Because of the way the resolution is structured, it is simply a request to send this proposal to the people of Maine to vote on," Warren said. "I still think it's a great accomplishment to have got it where it is, to have the conversation."
On the House floor, every Republican present voted no against the bill for a variety of reasons. Rep. David Haggan said he voted no because of the concern the amendment would be irreversible if it passed a statewide vote.
"I think a lot of people in Maine are not represented by this bill, and they'll have no say after that," Haggan said.
He also said he's concerned Mainers who doesn't agree with abortion rights would not be represented fairly due to lobbying.
Other lawmakers, like Rep. Regan Paul, said she voted no to abide by the belief of many that life begins before birth.
"The 14th amendment prohibits states from depriving any person of life," Paul said in a statement. "Therefore, Mainers are afforded the constitutional right to life, not the right to take life. Those who take their oath seriously voted against this measure."
Some organizations were disappointed with the Legislature's decision.
"Overwhelmingly when we see Mainers weighing in on access to reproductive freedom at the ballot box, they are supportive," Maine Family Planning representative Olivia Pennington said. "These lawmakers chose to deny Mainers that opportunity."
According to a 2023 study by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, 52 percent of Mainers said they would strongly support abortions after 24 weeks.
"In every election where voters have had the opportunity to weigh in on reproductive rights post-Dobbs, red and blue states from Montana to Ohio and Kansas ... they voted to protect and enshrine rights," Lisa Margulies of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund said.
Warren said she hopes to bring the bill up in the next legislative session.
"Even if I fail—even if we fail—I think we've got to try," Warren said. "Maine people deserve that. I know the people I represent deserve that."