ST PAUL, Minnesota — This month marks one year since Governor Tim Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law.
The PRO Act placed abortion access rights into Minnesota law for the first time ever.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned about a year and a half ago, it has had a ripple effect — even in states, like Minnesota, where abortion remains legal.
On Monday morning, Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan met with leaders at Planned Parenthood North Central States at headquarters in St. Paul to discuss what has changed since Roe was overturned.
Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, described Minnesota as "an island of access" for abortion care. Richardson said they have seen a 25% increase in abortions in Minnesota since Roe was overturned.
"This is not by accident and it's also pretty predictable, recognizing that surrounding states have been limiting and banning abortion while Minnesota has been increasing access. We've seen nearly 100% increase in out-of-region patients traveling for care since Roe was overturned," Richardson said.
At Planned Parenthood's health center in Uptown, most patients are still from the Midwest but they are also seeing patients from states like Texas and Florida for the first time.
"We recently finished a health center expansion to increase our capacity in Uptown and meet these patients' needs. We added seven new exam rooms and we're increasing our abortion appointments from two days a week to three days a week. This makes a 50% increase in capacity at our Uptown location," said Christi Hutchinson, health center manager of Uptown Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood North Central States expects they will see a lot more patients coming to southern Minnesota for care if Iowa's new ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy ends up becoming law. After a judge temporarily blocked the state's new ban, abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy while the courts assess the new law's constitutionality.
"Part of what we have been trying to do with our Mankato Health Center is expand abortion in southern Minnesota because we are anticipating that outcome in Iowa. So we will anticipate that patients from Iowa, at least some of them, will come to Minnesota, southern Minnesota, for that care," said Dr. Sarah Traxler, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States.
Those against abortion have also been continuing their work.
"We've been traveling the state over these last many months talking to people about the extreme agenda of the Walz administration and the DFL leadership in our state," said Cathy Blaeser, co-executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).
Blaeser said it was a blow to organizations like pregnancy crisis centers when lawmakers last year repealed the Positive Alternatives grant program.
Critics of the program echoed sentiments from a report from The Alliance that includes claims that nearly 57% of Minnesota's crisis pregnancy centers make false statements about abortion.
"The Positive Alternatives grant program was a funding stream of about $3 million a year going to organizations that provide positive alternatives to abortion for women who want to be able to have their baby but are facing difficult pregnancies, facing difficult financial situations, need somebody to walk alongside them through that process and well into the life of the child," Blaeser said.
Blaeser said they are expecting a "larger than ever" crowd later this month for March for Life at the Minnesota State Capitol.
"Minnesotans know there's so much beauty and goodness to promote in our state. They do not want the governor promoting abortion as the reason to come to Minnesota," Blaeser said.
Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) said Tuesday, “Yesterday's event is a blatant effort to exploit a divisive issue for political gain. Republicans have offered many ideas to support women and families and also protect innocent lives from extreme abortion policies. Instead of searching for consensus, Minnesota Democrats passed some of the most extreme laws in the country without commonsense limitations protecting mothers and babies.”
"This is not some weird, mean, political ideology you're trying to force on people. These are people's lives and health care decisions that need to be made by them and their health care providers in a setting that they can feel safe, respected, and heard," Gov. Walz said.
Minnesota Democrats have discussed the possibility of putting a constitutional amendment protecting abortion on the 2024 ballot as an added layer of protection.
Gov. Walz responded, "My daughter's living in Montana. One of the things that Montana is somewhat of an outlier out in that part of the country is they have strong constitutional protections. That's the only thing standing between them being Idaho. So I think making sure we have the strength in place... I'm certainly open to if the legislature determines that's the best route."
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