Oregon governor signs landmark bill to provide free abortions for all, including illegal immigrants

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has approved a legislation that requires insurance companies to provide free abortions for all residents, as well as illegal immigrants.

On Tuesday, the governor signed House Bill 3391 into law, making Oregon the first state in the nation to offer free abortions for all.

The measure, which was approved by the State Legislature on July 5 with no Republican votes, requires Oregon insurers to provide 100 percent coverage for abortions without co-pays or deductibles, Breitbart News reported.

The $10.2 million Reproductive Health Equity Act, which goes into effect immediately, allocates $500,000 for the estimated 22,873 women eligible under the Oregon health plan.

Critics have argued that the measure would force people who have moral objections to abortion to assume some of the costs.

The new law carries an exemption for houses of worship and religious non-profits, but pro-life groups contend that the exemption is very weak.

According to Fox News, the state will fully reimburse the abortion expenses of policy holders of Providence Health Care, Oregon's single non-profit Catholic health insurance provider that does not cover abortions.

The legislation received some praises from the pro-choice movement, but it drew criticisms from conservatives.

"Everyone in America needs to see that Oregon's former late-term abortion-lobbyist governor Kate Brown just forced Oregonians to fund against their will late-term and sex-selective abortions," Jonathan Lockwood, spokesman for the Oregon Senate Republicans, said in an email. "Watch out; this is coming to a state near you," he added.

Opponents have predicted that the law will be challenged in court, arguing that it violates the Weldon Amendment, a 2004 congressional provision that prohibits Health and Human Services funds for states that discriminate against health care providers that refuse to cover abortions.

Oregon House Democrats have stated that the measure is a direct response to President Donald Trump and pro-life federal lawmakers, who are currently debating a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood reportedly helped in drawing up the law that excludes citizenship status as a requirement for Medicaid coverage.

"We are so grateful for the bold leadership of Gov. Brown and legislative champions who understand that Oregonians don't want reproductive health care attacked," said Laurel Swerdlow, advocacy director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.

"Women, transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, people of color, immigrants and people of faith are not going to silently stand around while politicians in Washington, D.C., try to take away our health care," she added.