Spokesman: GOP will block vote on abortion rights

ALBANY -- Saying the measure is unnecessary, Republicans will block the State Senate from voting on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to strengthen abortion rights, a GOP spokesman said Wednesday.

Cuomo on Tuesday introduced a 10-point "women's agenda" that calls for laws to crack down on sexual harassment in the workplace, human trafficking and pay inequities. All of his agenda items have broad legislative support -- except a provision that would ensure current abortion rights in New York if Roe v. Wade were ever overturned at the federal level.

Republicans have called the provision unnecessary and said loading it into one piece of legislation that otherwise has broad support amounted to a "political maneuver." A spokesman for Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said Wednesday that the chamber won't agree to bring the legislation to a vote.

"Senator Skelos has indicated he will not consent to bringing that measure to the floor," said Scott Reif, a Skelos spokesman. He noted that Skelos has spoken favorably about every other proposal in the women's agenda besides abortion.

A Cuomo spokesman declined to comment.

New York law only allows late-term abortion, after 24 weeks, if a woman's life is at risk. Federal law permits the procedure if a woman's life or health is at risk. Cuomo wants state law to match federal protections.

"It's a very simple decision. On this language you're either pro-abortion rights or you're not," Cuomo said during a news conference at his office Tuesday. "It is that binary, in my opinion."

Opponents, including the Catholic Conference, a lobbying arm for the Roman Catholic Church, have attacked the proposal, saying it amounts to easing access to late-term abortions.

Cuomo's proposal should encounter few problems in the Democrat-dominated state Assembly.

Under a coalition arrangement in the politically split Senate, co-leaders Skelos and Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) must both agree to bring a bill to the floor for a vote. Skelos has repeatedly said a bill reaffirming Roe v. Wade rights is unwarranted at this time.