Constitutional abortion amendment proposed

Gov. Jay Inslee and several state legislators announced policies Friday morning aimed at protecting reproductive health in the 2023 legislative session.

Inslee said he is working to propose a constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to abortion access. The amendment would also enshrine the right to use or refuse contraceptive services.

Amendments need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the state House and Senate, along with voter approval.

"Washington was a pro-choice state," Inslee said at a press conference Friday morning. "Washington state is a pro-choice state. We intend to make it a constitutional amendment to ensure Washington state will always be a pro-choice state.”

Inslee said the amendment needs to be included because state legislators have introduced 40 bills in the last few years to reduce women's rights to abortion access.

“There are threats every day to a woman’s right of choice in the state of Washington," Inslee said. "The gates have been thrown open to those malicious attempts to strip women of this women’s right of choice. Washington state needs to stop this Republican attempt. Not just this year, not just next year, but every year.”

Inslee said he intends to take statutory action in order to make Washington a sanctuary state. This would ensure any woman in America could come to Washington and have expanded reproductive rights.

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