Alabama to vote on abortion policy amendment

The Alabama State Legislature certified a constitutional amendment addressing abortion on April 25, 2017. The measure would add language to the state [View this email in your browser]( [Ballotpedia]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Daily Brew]( On April 25, 2017, the Alabama State Legislature certified a constitutional amendment addressing abortion to appear on the state ballot in November 2018. The measure would add language to the state constitution to note that “nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.” The measure would also declare that the state's public policy is to recognize and support "the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life" and "ensure the protection of the rights of the unborn child in all manners and measures lawful and appropriate.” The state House voted 25 to 7, and the Senate voted 73 to 24. Of the legislators who did not abstain from voting, all Republicans voted to pass the amendment and all but three Democrats voted against the measure. According to Rep. Matt Fridy (R-72), the amendment's legislative sponsor, the goal of the measure is to “make sure that at a state level, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, that the Alabama Constitution cannot be used as a mechanism by which to claim that there is a right to abortion.” [Show more]( → [New Jersey] April 25 was the last election that the Newark Public Schools Board of Education held before the board regains local control of the district. The board has held advisory status since it was taken over by the state of New Jersey in 1995. The Newark Unity slate of candidates—Reginald Bledsoe, Josephine Garcia, and Flohisha Johnson—was victorious in the general election. A total of 16 candidates, including one incumbent, filed to run for three seats up for at-large election. The Newark Unity slate was endorsed by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. [Show more]( → [Fact check] At a town hall debate on healthcare, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because, in part, voters are “tired of premiums going up.” Sen. Bernie Sanders responded, “Before the Affordable Care Act, as Ted probably knows, if you were a family of four during the eight years under George Bush, your premiums doubled.” Is Sanders correct that the health insurance premium for a family of four doubled during the administration of George W. Bush? [Show more]( → Ballotpedia depends on the support of our readers. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. [Donate Securely Online]( Decide which emails you receive from Ballotpedia. [Unsubscribe or adjust your preference]( [Facebook]( [Twitter](