Massachusetts State Representative Alan Silvia, a Democrat, expressed horror on Wednesday over the state’s decision to lift restrictions on abortions at or after 24 weeks.
Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, eliminating Massachusetts’ statutory 24-week abortion restriction.
Prior to this legislation, the state permitted abortions at 24 weeks or later only in cases where a mother’s life or physical or mental health was at risk, or when there was a lethal or severe fetal diagnosis.
“We had absolutely no warning that this was coming out,” Silvia said during an interview on “Finnerty.” “We received notice the day before the bill was presented to the Legislature.”
Silvia, one of nine Democrats who voted against the legislation, stated: “Many of these abortions will be taxpayer funded. It wasn’t so long ago when abortion was restricted and rare. And now it’s celebrated.”
“The thing that upsets me most is to see right now my colleagues, many of them who I’ve worked with over the years, celebrating, clapping like they just won the World Series,” he added.
Silvia warned that the change could lead to looser regulations on issues such as physician-assisted suicide.
“Two years ago, legislation was passed regarding fetal anomalies after 24 weeks,” Silvia said. “People always say 24 weeks. That’s nearly six months.”
“When we think of our own children, when our partner or spouse was pregnant with child six months, that was quite a distance along,” he explained.
He continued: “We’re so concerned about social compassion. We think about saving baby whales and seals affected by plastics in waterways. And here we are killing babies.”
