Gavin Newsom’s abortion policies are alarming, even if he’s not running for president
California Governor Gavin Newsom says he is no running for president. Despite persistent rumors swirling that he is preparing to challenge Joe Biden in the primary, he told the Associated Press that he has no chance of running in 2024. “Not on God’s green earth, as the phrase goes,” he said. “I’ve been pretty consistent — including recently on Fox News — making the case for his candidacy.”
But that doesn’t mean Newsom isn’t influential — or that he can’t be president one day. Especially on the topic of abortion, California leads the nation in policy and influence — and that’s a troubling thought.
The beginning of Newsom
Originally serving as the mayor of San Francisco, Newsom was elected governor in 2018. Shortly after taking office in 2019, he made it clear that his goal was to promote abortion in California. In just months, he issued a proclamation Touted how easy it was to get an abortion in California, and encouraged women in pro-life states to travel there. He said:
California will continue to promote women’s equality and freedom by protecting their reproductive freedom, educating Californians about their rights to reproductive freedom, welcoming California women to fully exercise their reproductive rights, and acts as a model for other states that want to ensure full reproductive freedom. for women.
Before the end of his first year in office, he signed a bill requiring all 11 University of California campuses and 23 California State University campuses to perform chemical abortions at campus health centers, in despite concerns raised by both universities.
He also voted down a bill involving sex education for middle and high school students, because it did not promote abortion enough.
Pushing abortion on children
Newsom approved bills that made it easier for children to get abortions without their parents’ knowledge or consent. One bill ensured that a minor could get an abortion, using their parents’ insurance plan, without needing approval from the insurance policy owner or subscriber — their parents — first. It also prevents the sharing of information about abortion.
Additionally, Newsom introduced a plan to pay for medical students to become abortionists; their student loans will be paid off, or they will receive scholarship money if they promise to have an abortion. Future nurses are also set up to expedite their nursing applications if they choose to assist or perform an abortion.
Newsom also oversees a new abortion website, specifically targeting minors with a section that says out-of-state minors how to get an abortion in California without their parents’ consent, and furthermore, telling undocumented immigrants how they can get taxpayer-funded abortions.
Abortion sanctuary
In 2021, Newsom announced that he wanted to make California an “abortion sanctuary.” He started a group called the California Future of Abortion Council, which announced plans to promote the abortion industry within the state.
The plans include public funding for abortion-vulnerable women to pay for their gas, lodging, transportation, and childcare, which will ultimately influence their decision to have an abortion when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, payment of abortionists for abortions among low-income women, and more. Because today, California has the highest number of abortionists in the country. He also moved to eliminate copays and out-of-pocket costs associated with abortion. Newsom also bowed to pressure from the abortion industry to use state abortion funds to pay for out-of-state abortions.
He erected billboards in seven pro-life states promoting abortion in California, even twisting the meaning of Bible verses used as part of their promotion. Newsom also ignored rising violence and attacks against pro-life offices and pregnancy centers, and budgeted $20 million for increased security for abortion facilities during the same time period… while starting of a “reproductive task force” dedicated to prosecuting pro-lifers for perceived “intimidation” or “harassment.”
“We’re going to be a sanctuary,” Newsom said in 2021. “We’re looking for ways to support that inevitability. [of women traveling to California for abortions] and looking for ways to expand our protections.”
Protecting against infanticide
A notorious bill passed by the state essentially legalized infanticide. The bill, which protects parents from prosecution if their baby is stillborn, states:
Notwithstanding any other law, a person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty, or otherwise be deprived of their rights under this article, based on their actions or omissions with respect to in their pregnancy or actual, potential, or alleged result of pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death due to a pregnancy-related cause. (emphasized)
By failing to define what is meant by “perinatal death” or “pregnancy-related causes,” abortion survivors, preterm infants, or infants with health complications may be left to die. The perinatal period is defined differently by different medical groups; it can be extended as long as 24 months after the birth of the child, but often considered up to 28 days following the birth of the child.
Newsom signed this bill into law in September of 2022.
Boycott of Walgreens
Earlier this year, Walgreens announced it would comply with abortion laws regarding the distribution of abortion pills, including laws protecting preborn children from chemical abortions. Newsom responded angrily, saying California would no longer do business with Walgreens. “We will not do business with companies that surrender to right-wing bullies pushing their extremist agenda or companies that put politics above the health of women and girls,” his office said in a statement.
Newsom ordered the state not to renew a $54 million contract with Walgreens.
Unfortunately, Newsom’s threats were empty; he was forced to walk back his boycott. California is required by federal law to continue doing business with Walgreens; Medicaid recipients are required to get their prescriptions filled at any approved pharmacy, which includes Walgreens. In 2022, California paid Walgreens $1.5 billion dollars. In the end, Newsom had to invite Walgreens to reapply for the contract.
Newsom may not be running for president right now, but the state of California’s extreme abortion policies have been copied in other states, such as New York. If California’s deadly policies continue to spread across the country, more vulnerable people will be in imminent danger of losing their lives.
