UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND AT 3:30PM

PRINSBURG (WJON News) - A central Minnesota city has denied an ordinance that would have allowed residents to sue individuals who receive an abortion. 

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A special meeting of the Prinsburg, Minnesota city council was called for 2:00 pm Friday to consider a proposed ordinance that would allow residents to sue others in civil court if they receive an abortion or aid someone in receiving an abortion. 

The ordinance would award $10,000 per instance to the claimant, along with court costs. 

Read the proposed ordinance here.

A post on the Prinsburg city website states:

Earlier today, by a unanimous vote the Prinsburg City Council decided to deny the request to consider the abortion ordinance that was previously presented by a city resident at the November 15 regular meeting of the council. In reaching its decision, the council took into account the position of the Minnesota Attorney General and its City Attorney stating that provisions described in the ordinance are unconstitutional and not within the legal authority of the city to enact. The council plans no further discussion or comment regarding the proposed ordinance.

In a letter to Prinsburg’s mayor Roger Ahrenholz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison warned the mayor that any city ordinance that limits the rights of pregnant Minnesotans to receive an abortion is unconstitutional, and no city in Minnesota has the

power to enact conflicting regulations on health care providers. 

All of us as elected officials swear to uphold Minnesota’s Constitution. I know that as Minnesota’s Chief Legal Officer, I will do everything within my power to protect Minnesotans’ constitutional rights, including the right to abortion.

Ellison also asked the mayor for copies of engagement letters between the city and either the Thomas More Society or St. Paul-based Pro-Life Action Ministries. The Thomas More Society is a Chicago-based non-profit that, according to its website, is “ dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. The Thomas More Society defends and fosters support for these causes by providing high-quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way to the United States Supreme Court.”

Calls to the Prinsburg mayor and city attorney have not been returned.

 

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