This is ironically ill-conceived.

Healthy turnout in ‘historic’ abortion vote | ABQJournal Online By Dan McKay / Journal Staff Writer

Copyright © 2013 Albuquerque Journal

No city in the United States has banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Voters this month will decide whether Albuquerque becomes the first to try. …

The ordinance appears in its entirety on the city ballot, a result of the City Council resolution that established the election. Critics say the language is vague and confusing. The ordinance was written by supporters, not city councilors or city attorneys. …

Ives said the ordinance is “deceptive and misleading.”

Halfway through pregnancy, about 20 weeks, is when certain tests are done and the health of the fetus may become clear, she said. That’s also when “pregnancy becomes taxing enough on the woman’s body” that her own health problems become clear, Ives said.

“You wouldn’t want to push a woman to make a quick decision,” Ives said. “You want women to have an opportunity to really think through their choice.”

The language in the ordinance could also limit the options of women and doctors when health problems arise, she said.

“I think absolutely a physician would have to provide the best opportunity for a fetus to survive rather than concern themselves with what’s best for a woman’s health,” Ives said.

The ban doesn’t contain an exception for rape or incest. …

City anticipates a challenge

A legal adviser to the City Council has raised questions about whether the ordinance would survive a legal challenge. Regardless, the city would defend the ordinance.

“The city anticipates the ordinance will be challenged and that a judge will make a ruling on the constitutionality of it,” City Attorney David Tourek said in a written statement.

It’s not clear how much the defense would cost, Tourek said in response to Journal questions.

“The city may be ordered by a judge to pay attorney fees and costs if the party challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance prevails,” he said. “The cost to the city would be based on the length of the legal proceedings.”

Ives suggested the ordinance wouldn’t survive a legal challenge, if passed by voters.

“Every court that has reached the question of whether or not 20-week bans are constitutional, all those courts have said they are not,” she said.

Healthy turnout in ‘historic’ abortion vote | ABQJournal Online