Pueblo City Council meets for proposed abortion ordinance
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The topic of banning abortion centers in Pueblo was back at the center of a heated discussion during a Pueblo City Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 23.
In the meeting, three presentations were given touching on different abortion related topics. One of which is Amendment 79, a ballot measure that would create a right to abortion in Colorado and repeal the State Constitution's ban on government funds for abortion.
"I want to start by saying the only reason that we're here having this hearing is because people's feelings are hurt, that they can't control women's choices and bodies," said City Council woman Sarah Martinez, District 3.
The meeting drew a large crowd from both sides, with the conversation devoted to abortion and local control.
"We fight really hard against that here on the Council, that we are not stripped of our local control," said City Councilwoman Regina Maetri, District 1.
Pueblo houses one abortion clinic, which Councilwoman Maestri said is a point of contention, and a topic voters should be educated on.
The meeting began with an overview of the Colorado Reproductive Health Equity Act, also known as 'RHEA'.
"The act requires that a public entity shall not deny, restrict, interfere with, or discriminate against an individual's fundamental right to use or refuse contraception or to continue the pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion," said Jack Teter, regional director of Government Affairs for Planned Parenthood. "In fact, according to RHEA, there can be no prosecution, punishment, or any other restriction on the individual's absolute right to access abortion. So, in theory, anyone could perform an abortion and there would be no prosecution, punishment, or any restriction," added attorney Josh Craddock.
Colorado Amendment 79 was also discussed–this ballot measure would declare abortion a right and eliminate the state constitution's prohibition to use public funds for abortions.
"It prohibits state and local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against this right. It repeals the current ban on public funding for abortion services," said Gil Romero, Capitol Success Group.
In other words, the bill might permit the state to pay for more abortions through Medicaid and it might permit local and state governments to provide coverage through employee health insurance, a decision Councilmember Maestri wants to keep local.
"What has happened is that state legislators have imposed laws and put them in place to basically almost dissipate morality in our community, and as a community, we have the right to have certain expectations of how our community runs in a healthy atmosphere," she said.
Monday's proposal was the initial introduction to decide if counties can have their own say in statewide legislation regarding abortion. A similar proposal was brought forth in 2022, but it failed. Amendment 79 will be on November's ballot and there will be more City Council meetings to further discuss any city-wide measures.
