The new law puts Maryland at the forefront of abortion rights nationwide, broadening access and requiring most insurance policies to cover the full cost of the process. The state is among a small minority promoting abortion protection this year, as many rush to approve restrictions in the event that the Supreme Court abolishes the right to abortion. Hogan vetoed the legislation Friday night, saying it threatened women’s well-being by lifting a long-standing ban that prevented anyone other than doctors from having an abortion. The overwhelming majority of Democrats in the General Assembly immediately overtook him in many liberal priorities that forced him to take a stand on issues he had largely avoided. Lawmakers set up a paid family leave program to subsidize 12 weeks’ leave from work, impose new restrictions on gun deals, and ban police from interrogating children unless there is a parent or lawyer. The Maryland abortion debate has been emotional, as lawmakers on both sides of the argument have publicly revealed personal stories of stillbirths, rape, adoption, pregnancy or fetal abnormalities. They invoked God, freedom, the history of oppression of women and, regardless of their party, the hope for a different future. In the plan to create an abortion shelter for a post-Roe era Republicans noted that Maryland already has some of the country’s friendliest abortion laws, which allow the procedure until the fetus is viable and then in cases of fetal problems or risk to the mother’s health. They described the new law as a “radical” extension. “Do not underestimate the extremism and murder of the unborn,” Del said. Rachel Munoz (R-Anne Arundel). “I promise that if you do, history will not look at you with kindness.” Democrats said the new law does not extend when one can request an abortion, but only increases the number of people who could provide it, so that pregnant women do not face high expectations or financial obstacles once they decide to have an abortion. “It is not ‘radical’ to ensure access to health care when people need it,” Del said. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery). Under the new abortion bill, which was passed only by Democratic votes, doctors already caring for pregnant women – midwives, doctors’ assistants and nurses – will also be able to have abortions. The state also commits $ 3.5 million a year to training medical professionals to do the procedure, which Democrats say is a critical investment in continuing education, and Republicans see the misappropriation of tax dollars. Two-thirds of Maryland counties do not have abortion providers, lawmakers said. Amid the uncertainty over whether the Supreme Court will retain the milestone Roe vs. Wade Advocate, attorneys feared existing state providers would be overwhelmed if the process was widely restricted elsewhere and women from outside Maryland began arriving for abortions. Funding for abortions in DC, Maryland and Virginia mobilized for an uncertain future “You could easily rename this bill ‘Abortion Tourism Act 2022,’ because that’s what this bill really does,” Del said. Matthew Morgan (R-St. Mary’s), sarcastically adding: “It basically extends to anyone but the receptionist. . » House Speaker Shane Pendergrass (D-Howard) assisted in the passage of the law during the 28th and final legislative session. On Saturday, she told her colleagues that they must respect each other and respect women enough to vote for the law. “Your conscience is a personal matter,” he said. “Your conscience and your religion is not my conscience and my religion. “We allow women autonomy – to use their minds and consciences – to make decisions about their lives.” A handful of Democrats sided with Republicans in opposition, though no one spoke on the issue. Republicans said they were ashamed that Maryland would use taxpayer money to train abortion providers and expand access to a process they consider morally reprehensible. “I’m not proud of Maryland becoming known as an abortion destination,” said Sen. Mary Beth Corroza (R-Worcester). But Democrats argued that Maryland voters introduced the right to abortion in a 1992 referendum and that civil servants should respect it and pass laws to reflect it. “We all know we voted right the first time and we need to keep up the good work,” said Sen. Delores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County). Democrats also united behind the passage of a new law on paid family leave that would likely work similarly to the state unemployment insurance scheme, where a tax on employees and employers would fund the subsidized leave. From 2025, Maryland employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks paid leave to care for a sick family member, newborn or newly adopted child, among other cases. Bypassing Hogan’s veto, Maryland will become the tenth state to offer job protection allowance. Paid family leave became a top priority in the Democrat-controlled legislature this year as workers’ rights advocates created a powerful lobby highlighting the impact the pandemic had on workers trying to balance work-life balance. “This is a social security network program,” Del said. Ariana Kelly (D-Montgomery), one of the first sponsors of the bill almost a decade ago. “If we learned anything during the pandemic it is that people have become addicted to social security nets.” In his veto message, Hogan argued that the measure would have a negative impact on small businesses. Employers with 15 or more employees will have to pay into a fund and, similar to unemployment insurance, employees will also have to pay a weekly contribution. Senate Minority Leader Justin Reddy (R-Carroll) said the bill had not been enacted and equates to a “payroll tax” on every employee in the state and most businesses and is estimated to cost up to $ 1.6 million a year. The bill does not set a cap on pay cuts nor does it indicate how much employees and employers should contribute. It leaves this decision to the Ministry of Labor. Del. April Rose (R-Carroll) compared the bill to “building an airplane while running on the runway.” Economic Affairs President CT Wilson (D-Charles) said lawmakers “have been discussing this since the early 20th century. … It is never a good time. It is never a good time. If not now, when? “We are not going to say let’s wait another year.” Senator Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel), a former small business owner, recalled paying one of her employees when she took off when her father was ill and later died, then to help her mother care for her brother who was diagnosed with Cancer. He said the next year the worker was battling cancer. Beidle said it continued to pay the employee. He said that as an employer he would have benefited if there was a paid leave. “It could have cost her $ 6 a week,” Beidle said. “I think this is good for employers. “And I think that’s a very sensible way to take care of employees.” The lawmaker also reversed Hogan’s veto of a bill requiring firearms dealers to take specific anti-theft precautions, impose faster measures to extend suburban rail, allow public defenders to form children being questioned to have access to a lawyer.
