Here we go again.
Voters in Arizona should start thinking if State Legislative Republicans want the Grand Canyon State to go back to what it was in 1864. That was a time when:
- Women had no rights including the ability to vote. They were second-class citizens to men.
- Blacks, Latinos, Indians, and noncitizen Immigrants had no rights either.
- LGBTQ rights were not even on the judicial and social justice radar in that period.
- Workers had virtually no rights in the workplace.
- Reproductive Freedom in virtually all cases did not exist.
- High School Graduation was not a requirement and college education was mostly for the elites.
Today, Arizona MAGA-Christian Nationalist Republicans on the House floor gleefully mocked Pro-Reproductive Freedom activists sitting in the second-floor gallery after blocking the second attempt in two weeks to repeal the 1864 Civil War Era ban on abortion.
It will be interesting if these same MAGA-Christian Nationalist Republicans will be mocking those same activists after the November elections if Democrats, riding a pro-reproductive freedom wave, manage to take control of the Arizona State Legislature and adopt an amendment to the State Constitution allowing choice.
Commenting on the latest obstruction from MAGA-Christian Nationalist Republicans, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said in a press release:
“Republican extremists in the House have yet again failed to do the right thing. In just one week living under this new reality, women, doctors, and healthcare providers have already begun to feel the devastating effects of living under a total abortion ban. We cannot go on like this.”
“I will continue to call on the Legislature to do its job and repeal this law. In the meantime, I remain committed to protecting the freedoms of every single Arizonan, and I am working to make sure women are able to access the care they need.”
“A law from 1864 written by 27 men cannot be allowed to govern the lives of millions of Arizona women. It’s time to put politics aside and do the right thing.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes also issued a statement that read:
“Once again, the Legislature has failed to repeal the outrageous 1864 near-total abortion ban. It is abundantly clear that the majority party wants this 160-year-old law to take effect. Complicated or complex decision-making is not required to repeal this insane law that doesn’t even include exceptions for rape or incest. Shame on the Republicans for risking the health and lives of women in this state and for criminalizing doctors and nurses for caring for their patients. My office is actively working on our strategy to fight back against this abhorrent law. We will have more to say in the coming days and weeks.”
Yes, that is exactly what they want.