Alex Gault reports in the Post Star that Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is one of 86 co-sponsors of the House version of a bill from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham to ban most abortions after 15 weeks nationwide. While local politicians have been promising abortion rights are safe in this state, the “Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act,” if passed, would override state laws and ban abortion in New York. Current New York law limits abortions for viable pregnancies up to 24 weeks of age, although allows the medical procedure later if the health of the mother or fetus is at risk. “Congresswoman Stefanik, a young mother, is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother,” said a statement from Stefanik’s advisor Alex DeGrasse. “She strongly opposes taxpayer funding for abortions and supports the Hyde Amendment. Her constituents are proud of her long pro-life record throughout her time in Congress.” The Hyde Amendment passed in Congress in 1977, banning federal funding for abortion except when the mother’s life is in danger and can be saved with the procedure. Matt Castelli, running against Stefanik in the 21st Congressional District that will include Rensselaer County, disagrees. “Elise Stefanik has put a target on the back of every woman in NY-21 and threatens the health of millions of American women by taking away their freedoms,” he said. “She continues to demonstrate that she is willing to sell out anyone for her own benefit, willing to deprive women of the right to make decisions about their own bodies, willing to threaten the lives of women — all to advance her own career. This dangerous and unconstitutional ban makes it clear that Elise Stefanik is unfit for leadership, and wholly unfit to represent the people of NY-21.” Read more about this story in the Post Star.