Andrew Cuomo in 2019 State of the Union address


On Abortion: FactCheck: Late abortions only for non-viable fetus

CLAIM: Trump says New York allows abortion "moments before birth", via recent legislation cited in the State of the Union address.

FACT-CHECK: This is false. Trump said, "Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth." The state recently passed a law loosening restrictions on abortions in the state, allowing abortions after 24 weeks if the fetus is not viable or when it's necessary to protect the life of the mother. The president paints the picture of a healthy mother and child, but an abortion would not be legal in that scenario after 24 weeks.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pushed back at critics, noting that it is "just a mirror of the federal law"--the abortion rights enshrined in the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. What's more, abortions later in pregnancy are exceedingly rare: just 1.3% of abortions in the US in 2015 took place in or after the 21st week.

Source: NBC News Fact-Check on 2019 State of the Union address Feb 6, 2019

On Abortion: Protect right to abortion if Roe is overturned

During his State of the Union address, Trump charged lawmakers in New York with having "cheered with delight" after recently passing legislation to "allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth." [What is that about?]:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law three reproductive health bills to protect abortion access if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the 1973 decision guaranteeing a nationwide right to abortion. That includes allowing abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy it the fetus isn't viable or the women's health is threatened.

Only 1.3 percent of abortions occur after 20 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the issue blew up after New York changed its laws.

The new Democratic majority in the House will prevent any anti-abortion legislation from getting to his desk. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's guests for the speech included the president of Planned Parenthood.)

Source: USA Today fact-check on 2019 State of the Union speech Feb 5, 2019

The above quotations are from 2019 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic response, Feb. 6, 2019.
Click here for other excerpts from 2019 State of the Union address to Congress, plus the Democratic response, Feb. 6, 2019.
Click here for other excerpts by Andrew Cuomo.
Click here for a profile of Andrew Cuomo.
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Page last updated: May 25, 2020