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California to Become 'Sanctuary State' for Abortion

The political promise is offered in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court


California to Become 'Sanctuary State' for Abortion

California unveiled plans to become one of the possible "sanctuary states" for abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.


The California Future of Abortion Council, which was founded by Governor Gavin Newsom, is made up of more than 40 abortion providers and advocacy groups. The Council released a list of 45 recommendations Wednesday.

The suggestions included the notion that California should cover the expenses of women traveling from states where abortion has been banned to seek a termination. This would include the cost of the procedure, as well as travel and accommodation.

"We are looking at ways to support that inevitability and looking at ways to expand our protections," said the council.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James promoted a similar concept this week.

The hopeful candidate for governor thinks her state should "establish a dedicated fund that would help support and provide financial resources to women across the country so that they could continue to make their own reproductive choices."

Abortion, perhaps more than any other issue, has divided the country for multiple decades.

A new Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade could come as early as next summer. The decision would be the culmination of more than 40 years of conservative activism and would be an historic overturn of the 48-year-old precedent permitting nationwide abortions. 

Wednesday's report offers an early glimpse of how Democratic-dominated states could respond and how the debate over abortion access would change.

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