Gov. Cuomo Unveils Women’s Equality Act

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled his long-promised Women’s Equality Act, a 10-point plan with a controversial final element that includes codifying federal abortion rights into state law.

It could determine the fate of various other anti-discrimination provisions included in the bill.

The legislation’s prospects were unclear in the State Senate, which is currently controlled by a coalition of independent Democrats who support abortion rights and Republicans who generally oppose abortion. Government officials say in the Assembly, where Democrats have a large majority, the abortion measure is likely to pass.

In his announcement, Cuomo insisted that the abortion element of the act did not expand or extend abortion rights, but simply protected existing rights for New Yorkers in case federal court rulings change.