Vermont Is Making Moves to Protect Abortion Rights

If you’re a liberal Democrat who wishes to move to a state that follows the same beliefs as you, then you should consider Vermont. As some Republican-lead states like Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri Mississippi, and Georgia attempt to ban abortion, others like Vermont are making moves to protect abortion rights. Yesterday, while millions around the country were protesting against the abortion bans taking place, in Vermont, people were applauding the way state officials there are going above and beyond to protect women’s rights.

Republican Governor Phil Scott will reportedly approve a bill that intends to protect women who choose to have an abortion. Yes, you read that correctly: A Republican governor is siding with women’s rights. Bear in mind, Vermont is a state where lawmakers voted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day and had a Republican governor voice his disdain over President Donald Trump. Needless to say, this Republican leader does not run with the pack.

The bill to protect abortion rights “would be among the most expansive abortion rights laws in the country,” furthermore “it will allow for ‘the fundamental right of every individual who becomes pregnant to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion,'” a local news outlet reports.

A spokeswoman for the governor, Rebecca Kelley, said that while Scott has not gotten to sign Bill H. 57 when he does he will definitely approve it.

“It will become law,” Kelley told the media. “We have not received the bill from the Legislature yet, so that’s all I can confirm at this time.” She went on to say, “Governor Scott has always been pro-choice, and he has said he will not veto the bill.”

As Vermont takes a huge step to protect women’s rights, other states are also looking to do the same. In Utah, a district attorney has refused to enforce a new law banning abortions after 18 weeks and in Colorado, the secretary of state is forbidding her employees from traveling to Alabama after the abortion ban.

“Until the laws of Alabama allow for safe and legal access to health care for women, we call on the Election Center to move the location of its training from Alabama, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. “I will not authorize the spending of state resources on travel to Alabama for this training or any other purpose. This is one action that I can take in response to this egregious law against women.”

Just as anti-abortion lawmakers in Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia are banding together to overturn Roe v. Wade — even though it won’t happen under the Supreme Court — other states should ban together to show their support for women. We need to see states, including California, Oregon, and New York, following in the steps of Vermont and show the country that they support women’s right to choose now and always.