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When the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June, California Democrats decried the decision as an “extremist position” and falsely claimed that the court had revoked abortion rights nationwide. Far from it, the court simply opted to let individual states (and their voters) decide how to regulate abortions in their own states.
Now California Democrats are responding to that ruling by placing Prop 1 on the November 2022 state ballot. Democrats have written a deceptive and false title for Prop 1 suggesting that it simply affirms existing California laws allowing “reproductive freedom.”
Unfortunately, Prop 1 does no such thing. In fact, Prop 1 repeal California’s current ban on abortions after 23 weeks of a pregnancy and allow the right to a late-term abortion up to the moment of birth.
Prop 1 as described on the ballot would seem to be a natural fit for California’s pro-choice voters. California already has one of the most permissive and lenient abortion rules in the country - allowing abortions up to the point of viability of the baby (which is considered about 23 weeks.)
Unfortunately, Prop 1 is a grossly deceptive measure that goes far beyond simply reaffirming existing abortion rights in California. In fact, Prop 1 eliminates ALL RESTRICTIONS on abortion - and allows for the right to an abortion even up to the point of the birth of the baby.
“By allowing abortion up to the moment of birth, Prop 1 has become the most extreme abortion proposal ever made in the history of the US,” says Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California, whose organization will be opposing the measure in the November 2022 election.
“This proposal is not about providing for a pro-choice regime in California — it goes to the farthest extreme of the abortion debate and is now about allowing infanticide as a matter of state law,” DeMaio warned.
“The Constitutional amendment being proposed offers no hint that the state has any ability to keep any restriction on abortion such as the 23 week limitation,” DeMaio notes. “Even pro-choice voters do not support abortion on demand even up to the point of birth,” DeMaio argues.
DeMaio also argues that Prop 1 interferes with existing state laws that allow for Sexually Violent Predators to be placed under mandatory chemical treatment to limit their sex drive and desires.
“Prop 1 is so broadly written that I fear it will also be used to remove important tools we have successfully used to combat sexually violent crimes such as child sex abuse and rape of women,” DeMaio warns.
A “Sexually Violent Predator” (SVP) is the worst classification in the criminal justice system. To be classified as an SVP, a person has to have been convicted of a violent sex crime, be diagnosed with a mental disorder, and be likely to reoffend.
Prop 1’s text reads “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual's … right to choose or refuse contraceptives.” According to the National Institute of Medicine, “progestogens, antiandrogens, and gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues … antipsychotics and serotonergic antidepressants (SSRIs)” are given to Sexually Violent Predators to supress libido. These drugs could fall under the classification of “contraception,” as they alter hormones and fertility.
DeMaio believes the wording of Prop 1 is no mistake, and says that state politicians are increasingly siding with sex offenders and passing laws to make it easier for them to escape treatment and listing on Sex Offender Registries.
“California’s liberal politicians are indeed this extreme and they are showing just how out-of-step they are even with voters who consider themselves pro-choice,” DeMaio concludes.
Reform California has put together what DeMaio calls a “Plain English” annual voter guide which cuts through the confusing ballot language and clutter and explains your ballot in simple terms. The organization has analyzed Prop 1 and issued the following assessment.
Prop 1
DeMaio and Reform California recommend a “NO” vote on Prop 1.
Join the Campaign: Make Ballot Titles Honest
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