Gov. Mills, a Democrat, has said that she would veto any bill that increases restrictions on abortion in Maine. When asked where he stands, Republican Paul LePage said he “didn’t understand the question.”

As a public servant with executive power, the governor is responsible for knowing exactly how potential changes to state laws would impact Mainers. Lawmakers across the country have enacted abortion bans since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June, many of which have exceptions for rape and incest. However, those exceptions are deliberately vague, which has resulted in 1 in 3 women in the U.S. losing their right to an abortion because of where she lives. So-called “exceptions” to abortion restrictions are merely ways for anti-abortion lawmakers to seem moderate.

I trust Gov. Mills to protect our reproductive freedom. I worry that LePage’s ignorance would have serious consequences for Mainers.

Julia Dunlavey
Portland