AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats in Augusta hope to add the right to an abortion to the state's constitution.
The bill, L.D. 780, could have a tough road ahead after lawmakers narrowly expanded abortion access just months ago.
To amend Maine's constitution, two-thirds of the votes in the house and senate are needed for the bill to pass. It would then go to a statewide ballot.
"I think the right thing to do is get this issue to the public to decide," the amendment's sponsor Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, said.
Vitelli told NEWS CENTER Maine she proposed the amendment because such an important right could be taken away by a different legislature and governor in the future.
"The supreme court's action eliminating Roe v. Wade made it clear that if we want to ensure the right is preserved and protected going forward, it needs to be ensconced as a clear right in our constitution," Vitelli said.
The proposed amendment is expected to face strong opposition after last year's abortion debate drew large protests at the State House.
"[Democrats] know it's not going to pass," Sen. Lisa Keim, R-Oxford, said. "It is about theatre. The Maine people already have a law in place that provides for abortion if a woman comes to that really hard decision and does seek one. This is completely unnecessary."
Keim told NEWS CENTER Maine Republicans will vote against the bill.
"I am also concerned about the bill's language," Keim added. "The language mentions 'reproductive autonomy,' and there is no mention of the sex of the individual, whether it be male or female. ... We can't put ambiguous language like this in the state constitution without knowing what the impact can be. Does this apply to fathers who have this autonomy? A child in the mother's womb also belongs the father."
In a response to Keim's question, Vitelli said the amendment applies equally to vasectomy's, birth control, and other factors that influences when an individual chooses to have a family.
A spokesperson for the governor's office said Gov. Janet Mills supports the proposal, which has a public hearing set for Monday, Jan. 22.