EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council on Thursday voted down a resolution declaring the county a “sanctuary county” for abortion access.
The measure failed in an unusual 3-3-3 vote: Commissioners Kelly Keegan, Jeff Warren and Ken Kraft voted in favor; Tom Giovanni, John Brown and John Goffredo voted against; and Lori Vargo Heffer, Ron Heckman and Jeff Corpora abstained.
The purely symbolic resolution would have had no impact on access to abortion, which is legal in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Council voted to table the measure last month after its author, Keegan, and Vargo Heffner agreed to work on a revised version without the “sanctuary county” designation.
“I would like the upper people that write legislation to know that I support this, and I would like my constituents to know that I also support women's rights.”Northampton County Commissioner Kelly Keegan
Last month’s discussion drew more than a dozen speakers to public comment Thursday to respond.
Most were anti-abortion activists who said the proposal amounted to endorsing murder; several praised the measure for endorsing abortion access.
Keegan said she decided to bring the measure up for consideration again Thursday after hearing from voters.
“My constituents have contacted me in support of the original resolution, and have asked me not to water it down or make it less than what it is,” she said.
“I would like the upper people that write legislation to know that I support this, and I would like my constituents to know that I also support women's rights.”
'Feels like such a 'gotcha' move'
For its supporters, the measure was a beacon of support for reproductive autonomy. To its opponents on council, it was a waste of time and source of needless conflict.
“We're not changing state law," Goffredo said. "We're not changing the federal law. We're not going to be able to change anything.
"This is a virtue-signaling, divisive piece of legislation, resolution, that is going to do nothing but upset people. I don't think it's productive, and I think it's going to only hurt this body.”Northampton County Commissioner John Goffredo
"This is a virtue-signaling, divisive piece of legislation, resolution, that is going to do nothing but upset people. I don't think it's productive, and I think it's going to only hurt this body.”
Heffner said, “I totally respect your right to put it [forward] as it is. I really wish you didn't do it tonight.”
Heffner said she supports abortion access but would abstain from voting.
“It feels like such a ‘gotcha’ move,” Heffner said.
“It’s not going to mean anything,” said Heckman, who also abstained. “It’s more of a poke in the eye to the people who oppose abortion.
"I don’t think that’s what I want to do in local government.”
