Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, suggested Sunday he's not comfortable with the lack of exceptions for incest or rape in an abortion ban he signed three years ago.
"I would have preferred a different outcome than that," Hutchinson said on NBC's "Meet the Press" when host Chuck Todd pointed out that that a 13-year-old who was raped by a relative couldn't get an abortion under the law.
"But that's not the debate today in Arkansas. It might be in the future, but for now, the law triggered with only one exception."as governor in 2019, and has previously said he personally believes abortion bans should have exceptions for rape and incest. He"If Roe v. Wade is reversed, these are going to become real circumstances. I think the debate and discussion will continue," Hutchinson said in May.
"The certification is what it is in terms of the exceptions for the life of the mother," Hutchinson said. "I do not see any additional action on that. The people have spoken on that through their elected representatives, and that is the law of the land in this state."Hutchinson on "Meet the Press" Sunday added he does not support a national ban on abortion, and that the decision should be left to the states.
"I don't believe that we ought to go back to saying there ought to be a national law that's passed," he said. "We've fought for 50 years to have this returned to the states. We've won that battle. It's back to the states. Let's let it be resolved there."