SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – California's top officials have vowed to take action to protect abortion rights in California hours after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was announced on Friday.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom officially signed into law a new bill, AB 1666, that will ensure anyone coming from another state seeking an abortion will be protected.
The signing came with formal remarks from other officials from the state government including Attorney General Rob Bonta, as well as Planned Parenthood and the California Legislative Women's Caucus.
"Those inhumane laws will not cross California borders," said Senate President pro-Tempore Toni G. Atkins.
"Abortion remains fully legal in California," said AG Rob Bonta, who repeated it again, for emphasis.
"For those who are in pain, who are hurting, I want you to know that California has your back," said Bonta. "We will fight for you."
This is one of more than a dozen pieces of legislation on the docket in the coming weeks set to better sure up abortion rights in the state, Newsom said, along with the opportunity in November for California voters to ratify the right to have an abortion into the state's constitution.
Millions of dollars in additional funding is being allocated to more than 108 health clinics in the state, said Newsom, to ensure they can continue providing adequate resources to people coming from out of state.
That care will be covered, regardless of residence, and kept confidential.
This builds on a joint statement from Newsom and governors of Oregon, and Washington, the three states on the West Coast declared a "Multi-State Commitment" on Friday, to "defend access to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, and committed to protecting patients and doctors against efforts by other states to export their abortion bans to our states."
"At least the Western United States will stand tall in terms of our reproductive values and our reproductive freedoms," said Newsom. "We are a sanctuary."
Jennifer Newsom also spoke at the beginning of the event, giving an emotional statement on how this ruling will affect future generations.
"I know history will show that this Supreme Court ruling does not reflect the true values of this nation," she said. "And it certainly does not reflect California's values."
In response, California will become a haven for women who need access to abortion services.
"In California, we trust women," she said. "In California, we believe women. In California, we value women and we support their right to choose."
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