AFN has reported on the all-out effort by abortion supporters, angry over the Dobbs abortion ruling, to codify abortion at the state level through a voter referendum. Much of that effort is focused on red states, such as Florida, but blue-state Colorado already has extreme abortion laws that permit abortion at any week of pregnancy.
"So why does the pro-choice community want to constitutionalize abortion?" asks Jeff Hunt, a Denver-based radio host. "Because they want to take away any restrictions whatsoever on bans on taxpayer funding or parental notification."
If the ballot measure is approved by voters, it would also prevent a future Colorado legislature from passing a parental consent law.
According to Hunt, the idea of taxpayer-funded abortion is not supported in what he calls a “socially libertarian” state where the mindset is do what you want and leave me alone.
"But we're a fiscally conservative state," Hunt says. "I've talked to progressives on my radio show that are saying, 'Look, I'm all for someone's right for abortion but I'm not comfortable paying for it, and I don't think this state should be paying for either.'"
Hunt predicts the parental rights issue will hurt the ballot measure, too.
The name and number of the initiative will be released Sept. 4 which will set off a two-month public campaign over a “yes” or “no” vote.
Hunt says abortion groups have committed millions of dollars to support the referendum, far outspending pro-life activists, even before the name of the ballot measure has been released.
"Pro-life people – Evangelicals, Catholics – need to step up and help support this campaign in Colorado,” he urges.
The amendment must get 55% of the vote Nov. 5 in order to pass.
