Posted on Jul 21, 2009 | by Staff

PHOENIX (BP)--Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is charting a different course from her predecessor by signing into law several measures that should reduce the number of abortions in the state.

According to The Arizona Republic, the Republican chief executive enacted legislative initiatives that:

-- Mandate a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion.

-- Require parental consent prior to an underage girl undergoing an abortion.

-- Prohibit partial-birth abortions, which are performed on nearly totally delivered babies normally in at least the fifth month of pregnancy.

-- Protect pro-life health-care workers from being forced to participate in abortions or to prescribe Plan B, a "morning-after" pill that has abortifacient qualities.

Brewer's June 13 actions contrasted with those of former Gov. Janet Napolitano, now secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From 2003-09, Napolitano, a Democrat, vetoed all abortion limitations approved by the Arizona legislature, The Republic reported.

"Governor Brewer today has shown Arizonans that she cares about the values that matter most to them: protecting life and protecting families," said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, according to The Republic. "These bills protect women, children, parents and the civil rights of health-care workers."
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Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.