How does Amendment 79 change abortion in Colorado? Issue on Nov. ballot
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Colorado Constitutional Amendment 79 aims to add the right to abortion in Colorado's Constitution along with opening the door for state funding to be used for abortions outside of cases of rape/incest or when the mother's life is in danger.
RELATED: Issue 79- Right to Abortion
"Amendment 79 is completely unnecessary," Marci Little is the executive director of 'Coloradans Protecting Women and Children.' Little says the amendment on the ballot this November goes too far and would rule out future restrictions on abortion. "I think it's irresponsible for us to say we're never going to be able to pass restrictions or regulations on abortion in the future."
"What we're doing is removing a restriction on health insurance that is provided by the state of Colorado from including abortion as a covered service. That does not necessarily mean it costs taxpayers more money," Karen Middleton, President of Cobalt Advocacy says Amendment 79 is needed even though the right to an abortion is already protected by state law.
"We've had roughly 40 bills trying to ban abortion in one form or another over the last ten years," Middleton said. "In order for us to protect the right at the state level, we need to confirm this right in the Constitution."
If passed Amendment 79 would add this specific language to the Colorado State Constitution:
THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED. GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT DENY, IMPEDE, OR
Amendment 79
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE EXERCISE OF THAT RIGHT, INCLUDING PROHIBITING HEALTH
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABORTION.
And section 50 of Article 5 (pg 63 of the 206pg doc) would be repealed.
Section 50. Public funding of abortion forbidden. No public funds shall be used by the
Section 50 of Article 5
State of Colorado, its agencies or political subdivisions to pay or otherwise reimburse, either
directly or indirectly, any person, agency or facility for the performance of any induced abortion,
PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the General Assembly, by specific bill, may authorize and
appropriate funds to be used for those medical services necessary to prevent the death of either a
pregnant woman or her unborn child under circumstances where every reasonable effort is made
to preserve the life of each.
This doesn't mean government spending would increase if passed and won't immediately cause taxpayer money to be spent on abotions via government health care. However, it would open the door for that to be possible.
According to a state financial study of the Amendment, "At this time, no change in spending is estimated, as it will depend on future decisions by the state legislature and local governments."
Little says she's worried, "We have currently a state legislature that is eager to pass abortion legislation...We can all but guarantee that once this goes through, they would ensure that taxpayer funding is allocated, for state health insurance plans."
"What we're doing is removing a restriction on health insurance that is provided by the state of Colorado from including abortion as a covered service. That does not necessarily mean it costs taxpayers more money," Middleton said.
Since it is a constitutional amendment 55% of the vote is needed to pass.
