BOISE, Idaho — Anti-abortion rhetoric is intensifying ahead of midterm elections as officials in Republican-dominant states push legislation that would punish both doctors and patients, even though such laws are likely unconstitutional. Politicians in states from Ohio to Oklahoma are pushing similar measures or promising to criminalize abortion as they seek office. In the meantime, a push for legislation punishing women has taken hold in Idaho, which has passed anti-abortion measures almost every year. The group Abolish Abortion Idaho has launched a ballot initiative seeking to charge abortion providers and women who end pregnancies with first-degree murder, but it doesn’t appear it will qualify for the November ballot. Top Idaho GOP gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist said at another forum months earlier that he would support legislation allowing women to be prosecuted for abortions.

Source: National Post April 19, 2018 18:08 UTC