Gavin Newsom invites women to have abortions performed in California

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2016, file photo, then Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom affirms he no longer opposes California's high-speed rail plan while speaking at the Sacramento Press Club in Sacramento, Calif. FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2016, file photo, then Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom affirms he no longer opposes California's high-speed rail plan while speaking at the Sacramento Press Club in Sacramento, Calif. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Gavin Newsom invites women to have abortions performed in California 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is welcoming women across the country who are seeking abortions to come have the procedure done in his home state.

In a Friday letter, Newsom joined Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in urging states "to review their laws and enact their own protections" after states such as Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Mississippi recently passed stringent laws that would curb access to abortion.

"In the absence of federal leadership on this issue, states must step up and put in place their own protections – both in statute and in their state constitutions, and through the expansion of family planning and education – to defend every American's right to reproductive freedom," the governors wrote. "Roe is settled law, but newly enacted and clearly unconstitutional laws in a handful of states compel our states to act now to reaffirm longstanding commitments to safeguard the fundamental rights of women."

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Newsom took it a step further, inviting women in conservative states to come to California to "fully exercise their reproductive rights."

"Today, we issued a California Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom, reaffirming our commitment to protecting women's reproductive choices, educating Californians about their rights to reproductive freedom, welcoming women to California to fully exercise their reproductive rights, and acting as a model for other states that want to ensure full reproductive freedom for women," the letter reads.

Newsom isn't the only California lawmaker taking aim at states passing new abortion laws.

Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) unveiled a proposal on the campaign trail that would require states to receive federal approval before changing abortion laws.

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"We are living through an all-out assault being waged on women's health and reproductive rights," Harris wrote on her campaign website. "From Alabama to Ohio, and Missouri to Georgia, the goal of Republican politicians is clear: Overturn Roe v. Wade and end safe and legal abortion in America."

Under her proposal, states that have a history of of limiting access to abortion would have to receive clearance from the Justice Department before implementing new laws on reproductive care.

Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting

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