The Alaska House of Representatives passed an amendment to the state’s spending bill that would exempt Alaska’s Medicaid program from covering abortions. Lawmakers have voted for similar amendments in the past, which have been found unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
House members spent most of the day in floor session Wednesday, working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By 5 p.m. Wednesday, lawmakers had worked through 54 amendments over two days, but passed only two. One amendment passed came from gubernatorial candidate Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, and exempts the state’s Medicaid program from paying for abortions.<\/p>\n
Another amendment to pass on the floor was from Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiagvik, for $50,000 for maintenance of a winter ice road in his district.<\/p>\n
Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, noted that the Alaska Supreme Court had found abortion to be protected under the state’s right to privacy laws, and the state has lost several court cases for attempts to deny access to abortion.<\/p>\n
“The court said that reproductive choice will be treated like other women’s health issues,” Josephson said on the floor. “That is the state of the law.”<\/p>\n
But several members of the Republican minority who spoke in favor of the amendment said the funding should be removed regardless of what the courts say.<\/p>\n
“If we have to run it through the courts let’s run it through the courts, maybe we’ll get a different outcome,” said Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake. “The right to privacy extends to the pre-born.”<\/p>\n
[Redistricting board takes public input on potential fixes<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n