Roll Call! Senate Passes Unrestricted Right to Abortion Up to the Point of Delivery (24-6), 2019

H.57- AN ACT RELATING TO PRESERVING THE RIGHT TO ABORTION
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in the State Senate
on May 7, 2019, by a vote of
24-6

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Purpose: To codify in Vermont law a woman’s unrestricted right to an abortion throughout pregnancy, up to the point of delivery.
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Analysis: Proponents of H.57 believe that given the current makeup of the Supreme Court there is a possibility that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, in which case decisions regarding abortion law will devolve upon the states. Though no challenge to Roe v. Wade has emerged, proponents believe that this legislation is a necessary safeguard.
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Those voting YES believe there should be no restrictions whatsoever on a woman’s right to end a pregnancy at any point from conception to delivery for any reason, or no reason.
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Those voting NO believe that there should be some regulations regarding abortion, including restrictions on late term abortions (after fetal viability outside the womb), cruel and unusual abortion procedures such as partial birth abortion, and some requirement for parental notification when a minor child seeks an abortion. They may also prefer expanding abortion by amendment as opposed to legislation, so that Vermonters can choose to vote on abortion directly.

As Recorded in the House Journal, Tuesday, May 7, 2019: “Thereupon, third reading of the bill was ordered on a roll call, Yeas 24, Nays 6. Senator Benning having demanded the yeas and nays, they were taken and are as follows…” (Read the Journal, p. 941-942.)

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How They Voted

Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – YES
Becca Balint (D-Windham) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – YES
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – NO
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
Randy Brock (R-Franklin) – NO
Brian Campion (D-Bennington) – YES
Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) -YES
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) – NO
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – YES
Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) – YES
Cheryl Hooker (D-Rutland) – YES
Debbie Ingram (D-Chittenden) – YES
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – YES
James McNeil (R-Rutland) –  NO
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) –  YES
Corey Parent (R-Franklin) – NO
Chris Pearson (P-Chittenden) – YES
Andrew Perchlik (D-Washington) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D/W-Washington) – YES
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – NO
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – YES
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES

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