PHOENIX, Ariz (KGUN) — Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a string of bills Wednesday on some of the most debated issues in politics: Abortion, transgender issues and elections.
Republicans hold the majority in Arizona’s legislature and the bills passed with party line votes.
The Governor describes them as protecting children and elections. Democrats describe them as wedge issues in the culture wars.
The Governor signed a bill that forbids gender reassignment surgery until someone is an adult. It does not forbid hormone based treatment for minors.
The Governor says: “The reason is simple, and common sense – this is a decision that will dramatically affect the rest of an individual’s life, including the ability of that individual to become a biological parent later in life.”
A separate bill requires that anyone playing school-based sports must compete based on their gender at birth.
Tucson State Rep. Andres Cano sees the transgender bills as cruelty.
“We have an obligation, I think, to send a clear message to all Arizona kids, including our trans kids, including our LGBTQ kids, that we love them, that we accept them and that ultimately the governor's action today should not get in the way of them knowing that they have a community of people who are paying attention to their well being to their emotional health and to their success.”
The Governor signed a bill that makes it a criminal act for doctors to perform an abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy unless there’s a medical emergency. Women who get an abortion after fifteen weeks would not be prosecuted. The bill does not allow an exemption for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
Kelley Dupps of Planned Parenthood of Arizona says if lawmakers really want to reduce abortions they should increase education designed to help people prevent unwanted pregnancies.
“I feel like you know, their whole point is personal responsibility, right? You should be responsible for your own choices. Well, if they're not allowing people to have the ability to make those choices then it's, you know, it's nothing but gaslighting and hypocritical.”
Planned Parenthood says it will work to elect more state lawmakers dedicated to preserving abortion rights.
The Governor signed a bill on elections too. That one requires proof of citizenship to vote in Federal elections. Current Federal law does not require proof for Federal elections, only a sworn oath. Opponents call the bill an effort to suppress voter turnout.
The laws will not take effect until 90 days after the legislative session ends.
Opponents say they will probably try to overturn the laws in court but they will have to take effect first.
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