California Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed Alabama’s controversial near-total abortion ban while in San Diego Saturday on his health care tour.
“It’s about control. It's about patriarchy. It's about going back to a time we don't want to go back to,” Newsom said.
The governor blasted legislatures around the country that have passed forms of abortion restrictions, as well as the Trump administration.
Newsom said he supports women being able to choose for themselves.
"And we will fight. We will defend women's rights. And defend our families," he said.
Newsom was introduced by State Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez at the private event held at in Mission Valley.
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The governor was met with cheers from supporters, many of who dressed in pink in support of Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to choose.
On Newsom's “California for All” tour, the governor discussed his state budget proposal, which sets aside $100 million for reproductive health and education. This includes $10 million for abortion services. His goal is to move toward a single-payer system in California.
In the meantime, his budget is proposing subsidies to help families pay for health care coverage. This could make California the first state in the nation to give monthly discount to middle-income families buying insurance.
Newsom also wants California to become the first state in history to expand Medi-Cal coverage to all eligible undocumented immigrants ages 19 to 25.
To keep costs down, the governor wants to keep an insurance mandate in the state. So, those who live in California who don’t have health care coverage would have to pay a penalty.
Newsom’s stop in San Diego came just days before Alabama signed into the most stringent abortion legislation in the nation.
Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia recently have approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy. The Alabama bill goes further by seeking to ban abortion outright.
Missouri was the latest state to pass new restrictions on abortions, which would ban abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy -- even in cases of rape or incest.
“Let's just pause. If you have a 12-year-old daughter that's raped by somebody at knifepoint, that may have HIV or AIDS or Hepatitis C. You're telling that 12-year-old, your daughter, you're loved one -- they’ve been raped by their uncle, and they have to bring that baby to turn? How dare they,” Newsom said.
The private event was held at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union office in Mission Valley and began at 9:30 a.m.
