Walz signs order to help shield abortion patients, providers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has signed an executive order meant to protect the state’s abortion services from laws in neighboring states, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision ending constitutional protections for the procedure.

Walz said his action should help shield people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota from facing legal consequences in other states. The Supreme Court’s opinion to reverse Roe v. Wade immediately halted most abortions in South Dakota and Wisconsin and enacted a trigger law to end abortions in North Dakota after 30 days.

Abortion remains legal in Minnesota. Walz has vowed to reject requests to extradite individuals who are accused of committing acts related to reproductive health care that are not criminal offenses in Minnesota.

“My office has been and will continue to be a firewall against legislation that would reverse reproductive freedom,” Walz said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-politics-minnesota-north-dakota-1f168cbf3dcd3169dff901f6ad4f126c

[progree]

1. MN's governor just issued an EO prohibiting state agencies from cooperating with efforts by anti-abo

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/gov-walz-signs-executive-order-to-further-protect-those-seeking-abortions-in-minnesota/

MN's governor just issued an EO prohibiting state agencies from cooperating with efforts by anti-abortion states to extradite or prosecute their residents traveling to MN for abortions.

A day after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order further protecting those who travel to Minnesota to get an abortion. "My office has been and will continue to be a firewall against legislation that would reverse reproductive freedom," the governor said in a statement Saturday. "This order shows our administration's commitment to protecting patients and health care providers."

The executive order, which immediately went into effect, commands state agencies not to assist other states' attempts to seek civil, criminal or professional sanctions against anyone seeking, providing or obtaining legal abortion services in Minnesota.

Additionally, the governor said he would decline to honor requests to extradite people accused of committing acts related to abortion that are not criminal in Minnesota.

Immediately after the high court's historic ruling, Minnesota became something of an island of abortion rights in the Upper Midwest. Every state that borders Minnesota either had laws to trigger an abortion ban (directly or indirectly) or plans to outlaw or greatly reduce access to the procedure.

Thanks Ocelot II - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216846988

[Marthe48]

2. I'm glad Gov. Walz did this

But the asshole states who think they can limit people's moving back and forth across state borders are full of crap. We are free citizens and this is 2022, not the middle ages. If I were leaving, say tx., for an abortion, I would keep going and not look back.

I hope that somebody takes any state that tries this on right into court.

[jstephenj]

3. Does the state of NY...

have such a law or a bill in the making? California is going to become the haven of the pacific west. It would be fitting for NY to be the haven of the east coast.

[Karma13612]

5. It would appear we have it covered!

[link:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-13/new-york-abortion-laws-shield-patients-providers-from-suits|

[greymattermom]

4. next up

No going to Vegas if you live in a state that doesn't allow gambling. No going to Colorado to eat a gummy. They will be busy.