Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Thursday spoke about the controversy in Alabama concerning the state’s passage of a bill almost completely bannng abortions.
Edwards has been an outspoken supporter of pro-life legislation, and a fetal heartbeat abortion ban bill is currently being considered in the state Legislature. The deep south’s only Democrat ,Edwards reiterated his support for anti-abortion legislation.
“My position has not changed. In eight years in the Legislature I was a pro-life legislator, 100 percent with the Louisiana Right to Life. When I ran for governor I said I was pro-life, so that is something that is consistent.”
Opponents argue the heartbeat bill is equivalent to a total abortion ban.
The Alabama law was intended to provoke a direct challenge to Roe vs. Wade. And, Gov.Edwards has said that, if Roe vs. Wade were ever to be overturned, Louisiana would immediately be off-limits to abortion providers.
“We’ve actually had a more restrictive abortion law on the books since 2006 than the one that is being contemplated now.”
The Alabama ban does not include exemptions for rape or incest and includes an up to 99-year prison sentence for doctors who perform an abortion.
Edwards says he’s confident that most Louisianians support his view and that of the Legislature when it comes to the increasing number of laws being passed in the state that would place significant restrictions on the procedure, if approved by the courts.
“The people of Louisiana are overwhelmingly pro-life, and this is the conversation we have been having here for many many years, and it is not any different.”
