Letters

I am writing in response to former Democratic Party Chairman Mike Anthony’s recent critique of my stance on abortion, in which he suggests it is not truly centrist [“Don’t Be Fooled,” Letters, August 29]. I found his submission to be more partisan than candid.

To clarify, I do not support a federal abortion ban and align with former President Bill Clinton’s position that the government should not regulate abortion in the first trimester, and in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk.

While I have concerns about second- and third-trimester abortions, my position is indeed centrist. Public polling, including surveys by Gallup and Pew Research, indicates that around 70 to 80 percent of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in the third trimester, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or the fetus has severe health issues.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to a sharp divide, with some states pursuing near-total bans and others, like New York, permitting abortions up to the 40th week, even when the mother’s life is not at risk.

Given that New York’s progressive abortion laws are unlikely to change, it’s important to seek a reasonable middle ground on related issues, including updating New York State law to ensure that parents are notified if their minor child seeks an abortion. Perhaps the former Democratic Party chairman will agree that this is a reasonable position and, in his next Letter to the Editor, urge members of his party, who control the state’s Assembly and Senate, to update New York’s abortion laws to be more centrist.

Nick LaLota

U.S. Representative, 1st District