Louisiana Governor breaks with Dems, indicates he'll sign 'heartbeat' legislation

[Kilgore]

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards reportedly signaled he would sign his state's "heartbeat" legislation -- effectively banning abortions after just weeks of pregnancy -- as his party faced questions over whether it should be more inclusive of pro-life voices

When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent," he reportedly said when asked about the bill on Thursday.

The bill, which awaited a vote from the Louisiana House of Representatives, would make the state one of the strictest on abortion access -- following a slew of other states that passed restrictions in an apparent attempt to make the Supreme Court reconsider major precedent on the issue.

Pro-life advocates have heralded measures like "heartbeat" legislation while groups like Planned Parenthood have challenged them in a series of legal battles. Louisiana's bill could face a lawsuit from the same group -- the American Civil Liberties Union -- that sued Ohio over its own "heartbeat" legislation.

“My position hasn’t changed. In eight years in the Legislature, I was a pro-life legislator,” Edwards said. Edwards attributed his pro-life stance to his faith but it also appeared to hold personal significance. Nearly three decades ago, he and his wife decided to have his daughter, diagnosed as a baby with spina bifida, against the doctor's advice to abort

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/louisiana-governor-breaks-with-dems-indicates-hell-sign-heartbeat-legislation

[JDC]

1. Let me be the first to say F him

[roamer65]

2. He just signed his national politics death warrant.

[ProudLib72]

3. Let's get over this purity thing once and for all

The Democratic Party is a big tent. We cannot afford to lose anyone! Mustn't disparage!

I'm sure he will be there when we need his vote most...

[GReedDiamond]

6. This is not a "purity thing." This crosses the line...

...a woman's right to do whatever with her body in ALL situations is her's alone.

[ProudLib72]

8. Forgot to add the sarcasm emoji

I'm venting because those are the lines I have read for the past two years. For instance, when Manchin does something terrible, it's always "We'll need his vote one day." And I believe it was Pelosi who was all for the big tent idea with regard to abortion because of her Catholic background.

[GReedDiamond]

15. Sorry, I'm totally burned out on Trump/Repugs/xtians etc...

...don't know how much more before my fuckin head explodes.

[UniteFightBack]

25. It's not the same thing. You need to support this position to be in the party...this person needs

to go.

[KPN]

11. +1000

[Jake Stern]

4. John Bel Edwards - making Joe Manchin look like a liberal since 2016

[Azathoth]

5. Being pro-choice in the Deep South is like being pro-gun in New York

It exists, but it's a political non-starter outside of a primary.

[rampartc]

7. undortunately, this is necessary

his reelection is in november. this is louisiana. we need a democrat. if he does not sign it he will lose to a rabid conservative republican.

[Bettie]

9. So, he cares NOTHING for women's rights...that being the case,

what differentiates him from a standard RWNJ? A "D" after his name means nothing if he acts like a Republican on every issue.

Are there literally no principles we need to stick to?

[rampartc]

13. i do not disagree with you

but our choice is not between edwards and a more liberal democrat.

he is infinately better on every issue, even this one, than his predecessor (bobby jindal) or his opponents.

[Sgent]

19. He

expanded Medicaid unlike every other Governor in the deep south and his R predecessor. He gives birth control access to every woman in LA who is poor -- which they didn't have before.

[KPN]

12. Oh, so signing this bill isn't "rabid". Good to

know. Feeling so much better about our need for blue dogs knowing that.

[rampartc]

14. i know i'm on the wrong side here

the truly abhorrant "consevative republicans" would, easily, over ride edwards' veto on this bill.

[Blues Heron]

20. but this guy truly is abhorrent if he signs this

He's consigning women to the back alley. That's abhorrent.

[rampartc]

24. i don't disagree.

but he is the best we are likely to get.

[hatrack]

28. He's also running the "I'm not a scientist/not sure what humans contribute" to warming shtick

Here, see for yourself - this was May 1st.

On May 1, Gov. John Bel Edwards tripled-down on climate denial at the Grow Louisiana Coalition “Oil and Natural Gas Industry Day” in Baton Rouge. Edwards acknowledges that the climate is changing but diverges from mainstream climate science by saying he is unsure what humanity's role is. His stance is echoed by his administration’s efforts to welcome new oil and gas industry projects in the state, including numerous petrochemical plants.

Which isn't materially different from what he said three years ago.

ov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, isn't convinced human activity is contributing to global warming, a stance that puts him at odds with President Barack Obama, most other national figures in his own political party and the mainstream science community.

Edwards said twice on Wednesday (Sept. 21) that he agreed the globe was getting warmer, but he has not been persuaded the phenomenon is man-made. The governor's comments where made during his monthly call-in radio show broadcast across Louisiana.

"I don't think there's any doubt that the climate is changing. The degree to which human conduct is impacting that change, I think, is somewhat debatable," Edwards said.

https://www.nola.com/politics/2016/09/john_bel_edwards_climate_chang.html

So here's the governor of a state that is fucking sinking into the Gulf Of Mexico because of global warming and he's talking about how "debatable" climate science is.

"But but but but but but but but but but "D" after his name!!!!!!"

[TDale313]

16. Yes, we must keep the Dem in office..,

in case something *actually* important comes up. Lord knows, putting women’s lives and well being in jeopardy and enshrining their status as second class citizens is a small price to pay. wt actual f?!? This is a bright red line here. Anyone supporting these abhorrent laws is on the wrong side of the war on women. We’re under assault.

[rampartc]

17. louisiana embodies a few political realities that, i hope, do not exist anywhere else

edwards, for example, does not seem to be measurably corrupt (as EVERY governor in our history has been.)

the alternative to john bel edwards is not barak obama (who lost 60/40) or hillary clinton (58/38), it is uncomfortably close to david duke.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Throwing people who want abortions under the bus is never necessary.

[UniteFightBack]

26. Then so be it...battle lines need to be drawn. nt

[dflprincess]

10. So it was their religion that kept he and his wife from

Choosing to have an abortion. Now he thinks it's his right to use his religion to keep anyone from having an abortion.

Why aren't the zealots who shriek about Sharia law yelling about Edwards wanting to enact Canon law?

[JI7]

18. the problem is the voters in Louisiana

it's a fucking right wing state .

[Initech]

21. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[TeamPooka]

22. No Fox News links please. Find another source for your story.

[wellst0nev0ter]

27. This is what happens when you vote blue no matter who

He crossed a red line. He's dead to me.