Group forms committee for reproductive healthcare amendment

For AR People announced Monday (Nov. 27) it has formed a ballot question committee to place an amendment on the Arkansas ballot to address reproductive freedom.

The new group, Arkansans for Limited Government, is seeking to qualify a constitutional amendment proposal – the Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment – that would prevent the state from restricting access to abortion up to 18 weeks after conception or in the instance of rape or incest, fatal fetal anomaly, or when abortion is needed to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health.

“When it comes to personal healthcare, Arkansans know what’s best for their families, and the state shouldn’t pretend to play ‘doctor’ or know better,” said Dr. Hershey Garner, Chair of Arkansans for Limited Government and a spokesperson for the group. “These matters are deeply personal and should be between an individual and their medical provider.”

Garner is an Arkansas board-certified physician and attorney with nearly 40 years of experience as a medical provider. Attorney Jim McHugh is serving as Treasurer.

“Doctors and patients are the only decision-making team needed for families to make healthcare decisions that allow them to flourish in Arkansas,” said McHugh. “The influence of politicians in the most personal, and often the most devastating, moments of Arkansans’ lives must end.”

The group must receive approval of its ballot title from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. If it clears that hurdle, the committee must collect 90,704 valid voter signatures by July 2024 to get the amendment on the 2024 general election ballot.

You can read a copy of the proposed amendment at this link.