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Women rally to demand Senate vote on abortion rights

Women’s groups rallied outside the New York state Senate chamber, demanding a vote on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 10-point women’s equality act -- that includes an abortion rights provision.

Credit Karen DeWitt
Pres of NYC-NOW Sonia Ossorio and women's groups rally outside NY Senate chambers- demanding a vote Friday on all 10 points of the Women's Equality Act President of NYC-NOW Sonia Ossorio and women's groups rally outside state Senate chambers- demanding a vote Friday on all 10 points of the Women's Equality Act.

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The women’s groups, chanting  “vote all 10,” want Senate Republicans, who co-lead the Senate, to relent and allow a vote on an abortion rights provision, as well as the other nine bills in the package sent to the Senate by Cuomo. The abortion measure would codify into state law the rights in the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision .

The women rejected a last ditch attempt by a group of breakaway Democrats who share power in the Senate.  The Independent Democratic Conference is asking for sponsors for their version of the abortion rights bill.

IDC spokesman Eric Soufer called it a “good faith effort to determine those senators who support the bill, and who are, in fact, pro-choice.”

Donna Lieberman, with the New York Civil Liberties Union, says it’s too late now for maneuvering.

“The time for jockeying about the procedure is over,” Lieberman said. “It is time in the next 36 hours for the Senate to put its money where its mouth is, if it is pro-choice, and vote pro-choice.”

The women are threatening to go after senators who suppress the vote in the next election cycle.

Some Senate Republicans, including GOP Leader Dean Skelos have said they are against the measure because they believe it would expand abortion in New York, something supporters deny.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.