Around New England

Rhode Island Gets Rid Of Law Preventing State Employee’s Health Insurance Paying For Abortions

May 21, 2023

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed a bill allowing state employees and those on Medicaid who want to get an abortion to use public funds for health insurance, repealing a previous state law that prohibited public funds from going to abortion. 

“Here in Rhode Island, we will always protect a woman’s right to choose and ensure equal access to these crucial health care services,” McKee said, according to The Associated Press on Thursday, May 18.

State senator and sponsor of the bill, Bridget Valverde, said that despite the state’s long-standing commitment to defending abortion, the work was not finished. “A right to a health care service is useless if we intentionally prevent people’s health insurance from covering it,” she said. 

Republican senator Jessica de la Cruz argued that abortion was something many people find immoral and shouldn’t be forced to pay for it. “For decades, the consensus has maintained that regardless of one’s view on the legality or appropriateness of abortion, taxpayers should not be forced or encouraged to pay for abortions,” she said.

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