Arizona lawmaker who announced plans in a floor speech last year to get an abortion is resigning

PHOENIX (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker who drew attraction for revealing successful a code astir a twelvemonth agone that she was planning to get an abortion has announced her resignation from the Arizona Legislature.

State Sen. Eva Burch of Mesa said she has been struggling to marque ends conscionable and find equilibrium successful her enactment successful the legislature and arsenic a wellness attraction provider. Just months into her 2nd term, she added successful her connection Wednesday that she was a “a casualty of legislative pay.”

“I anticipation that the aboriginal volition spot Arizona lawmakers earning a surviving wage truthful that our constituents tin beryllium represented by moving people citizens who recognize the pressures of raising a household and struggling to marque ends conscionable present successful Arizona,” said Burch, whose resignation is effectual March 14.

Nearly a twelvemonth ago, Burch revealed portion speaking connected the Senate level that her gestation was nary longer viable and that she was readying to get an abortion. Burch, who had antecedently worked arsenic a caregiver practitioner astatine a women’s wellness clinic, had said she wanted to stock with her colleagues and the nationalist the applicable effects of termination restrictions passed implicit the years. Burch besides criticized restrictions successful Arizona arsenic being retired of touch.

Her code came conscionable earlier the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a Civil War-era termination prohibition could apply. The Legislature repealed the law earlier enforcement could begin.

In November, Arizona voters approved a law amendment guaranteeing termination entree up to fetal viability, typically aft 21 weeks.