Albany, NY – On September 7, 2016, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued an opinion in which he creatively reinterpreted state law to allow third-trimester abortions under a broad “women’s health” exception. Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, made the following remarks:
“Under Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s abortion expansion opinion, a healthy and viable unborn baby could be legally aborted at any point during a pregnancy so long as a pregnant mother and her doctor could connect the abortion to the mother’s ‘health.’ Court decisions relating to this issue have interpreted this type of ‘women’s health’ exception to encompass issues like economic and social health. Because third-trimester abortions are never medically necessary in New York in the year 2016, the Attorney General’s opinion appears to have more to do with his radical pro-abortion ideology than it does with any New Yorker’s health and well-being.”
“Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s abortion expansion opinion is the latest example of our executive branch fulfilling the wishes of its far-left political allies, while circumventing the legislative process. Since Eliot Spitzer became Governor in 2007, abortion advocates have pushed for changes to state law to allow third-trimester abortions. Because 10 years of efforts have failed to persuade the public and the Legislature to support this ghastly proposal, ‘Third Trimester’ Schneiderman has chosen to act on his own. Whether Attorney General Schneiderman is acting at the behest of his fellow travelers on the far Left or at the urging of his new friend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, remains unknown. What we do know is that if this opinion goes unchallenged, the result will be the tragic and unnecessary deaths of more unborn babies in a state that is already known as an abortion mecca. The last thing New York needs is to invite more Kermit Gosnells to set up shop here—but that is exactly what Attorney General Schneiderman has done.”
“The New York State Legislature has declined to pass abortion expansion legislation for a reason. Public policy in the State of New York should be focused on aiding women and their unborn children in their hour of need, not catering to well-funded political allies at Planned Parenthood. Attorney General Schneiderman’s opinion must be strongly opposed by all New Yorkers of good will.”