In a move that marks a significant revision in Maine’s abortion laws, the state legislature has recently passed a controversial bill that permits abortions up to birth. This development, which has sparked an intense debate across the state, arrived despite staunch opposition from pro-life advocates. With the final approval hinging on a Senate vote of 20 to 11, the bill is now poised to be signed into law by the state’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills.
Public protests had burgeoned in May when demonstrators convened at the state Capitol to express their disapproval of the bill. Nevertheless, the proposal advanced through legislative proceedings, largely due to Democratic control and backing from influential organizations such as Planned Parenthood.
Critics have voiced concerns over the legislation’s broad scope, asserting that it allows late-term abortions for any reason deemed “necessary” by a practitioner, rather than limiting it to specific medical or health-related circumstances. As it stands, Maine’s current laws prohibit abortions after 24 weeks of gestation.
Polls have consistently indicated that the public largely opposes late-term abortions, with a majority of Americans believing in the protection of viable unborn infants. Skeptics have further argued that late-term abortions are redundant given the availability of alternative procedures, such as immediate delivery, which could potentially preserve both the mother and the child’s lives.
