NY faces calls to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Democrats are considering enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, possibly as part of a broader amendment that would also prohibit discrimination based on gender expression.

Lawmakers held a special legislative session Thursday that Gov. Kathy Hochul called primarily to pass an emergency overhaul of the state's gun permitting rules after they were struck down by a Supreme Court Court ruling.

But the Democrats were talking privately about whether to also use the emergency session to launch the process of amending the state constitution to protect the right to abortions.

State law currently allows abortions up to the 24th week of pregnancy, but abortion rights supporters say they want a guarantee that a future legislature won't be able to pass more abortion restrictions.

Even in a blue state like New York, however, some Democrats have been hesitant to start the process of amending the constitution amid opposition from pro-life Catholic groups.

“There’s a narrative that’s taken hold among Democratic leadership that somehow they can’t win on this issue,” said Katharine Bodde, New York Civil Liberties Union assistant policy director.

Hochul, a Democrat running for her first full term as governor in November, has vowed in campaign ads to protect the right to abortion in the state constitution.

Lawmakers and advocates are also debating the best way to spell out abortion protections.

One approach would be to protect abortion rights indirectly. Leaders of NYCLU and Planned Parenthood’s New York chapter have proposed an amendment they say would guarantee abortion rights by prohibiting discrimination based on “pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.”

That amendment could also prohibit discrimination...