Vermonters sound off on proposed reproductive rights amendment ahead of November vote
The amendment would add wording to the Vermont State Constitution protecting individual's reproductive rights.
The amendment would add wording to the Vermont State Constitution protecting individual's reproductive rights.
The amendment would add wording to the Vermont State Constitution protecting individual's reproductive rights.
Article 22, also known as Prop 5, is a proposed amendment to Vermont's State Constitution. The proposal would add wording that makes it difficult for the government or state to become involved with anyone’s reproductive rights.
"It isn’t a complete prohibition on state action, it just says since this a fundamental right and liberty. "The state has got to have a really good answer and reason before it acts," said Jared Carter, a professor of Vermont Law and Graduate school.
For some, the proposal is raising red flags as they believe if passed, individuals could end a pregnancy at any time regardless of the fetus’s age.
"The Solicitor General testified in the legislature that a law that would define a viable fetus as having a life interest would be unconstitutional under Prop 5," said Anne Donahue, a Vermont State Representative.
Those for Prop 5 argue it gives all Vermonters the rights they deserve when it comes to reproduction.
"It will protect the full spectrum of reproductive health care including abortion and contraception and will ensure that important personal health care decisions remain between patient and doctors and not politicians," said Lucy Leriche of New England Planned Parenthood.
Those for the amendment also say that the late-term abortion point is a scare tactic to voters.
"The Vermont Department of Health publishes those records. We know that 1% of abortions in Vermont are performed at 21 weeks or later and there are zero that are elective abortions," said Leriche.
Political analysts say groups opposed to the amendment will continue to cite that this article is too extreme and unnecessary.
"Proposal 5 is a fundamental change to the legal values and standards that were expressed in Roe v. Wade," said Donahue. "Article 22 goes way beyond that and goes to the extremes by refusing the balancing of any rights."