LITTLE ROCK, Ark. \u2014 Arkansas soon will have the nation\u2019s most restrictive abortion law \u2014 a near-ban on the procedure from the 12th week of pregnancy onward \u2014 unless a lawsuit or court action intervenes.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature defied Gov. Mike Beebe, overriding the Democrat\u2019s veto. The House voted 56-33 on Wednesday to override Beebe\u2019s veto, a day after the Senate voted to do the same.<\/p>\n
The votes come less than a week after the Legislature overrode a veto of a separate bill banning most abortions starting in the 20th week of pregnancy. That bill took effect immediately after the final override vote, whereas the 12-week ban won\u2019t take effect until this summer.<\/p>\n
Abortion rights proponents already have said they\u2019ll sue to block the 12-week ban from taking effect. Beebe warned lawmakers that both measures would end up wasting taxpayers\u2019 money with the state defending them in court, where, he said, they are likely to fail.<\/p>\n