The Washington-based group Democrats For Life today is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to drop his support for the Reproductive Health Act, calling the measure an expansion of abortion that would provide for late-term abortions.

Those who back the bill disagree, calling it an update to the state’s existing abortion laws in order to codify the Roe V. Wade.

Nevertheless, the measure’s support in the state Senate, led by a coalition of Republicans and five independent Democrats, is unclear, given that at least two Democrats in the mainline conference are opposed to abortion.

“New York has fewer restrictions on abortion than most states and almost double the national average rate for abortions,” said Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats For Life. “The abortion expansion measure will do nothing to help women, nor will the Governor’s support for unlimited public funding for abortion.”

She added that Cuomo is supporting an agenda “for a minority group of pro-abortion radicals.”

“His message to low-income women is that New York will pay for your abortion, but if you want to carry your pregnancy to term, you are on your own,” Day said.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos picked up on very much the same line of criticism of the RHA, claiming that it would provide for partial birth abortion.

As last week wore on, Cuomo’s top legal advisor, Counsel Mylan Denerstein, wrote an op/ed saying that critics of the measure are spreading misinformation.

Cuomo has assembled a coalition of groups to back his women’s equality legislation, which includes pay equity and a bill strengthening anti-domestic violence laws.

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