Arizona Republicans BLOCK attempt to repeal 1846 law that banned abortion and was reinstated by the state Supreme Court

Arizona Republicans in the state House blocked a second effort to repeal the state's 1864 law banning abortion which has sparked outrage nationwide after the state's Supreme Court ruled the 160-year-old law could be enforced. 

The state GOP lawmakers effort goes against the urging of some prominent Republicans including former President Donald Trump and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake who have called for the state legislature to act.     

On Wednesday, Democratic state lawmakers launched a second effort to repeal the 160-year-old law. But their effort failed after Republicans refused to hold a vote to repeal it.

Republican state lawmakers in the chamber could be seen applauding after it was blocked. One lawmaker even raised his fists in victory.

Democrats in the Arizona House slammed GOP leadership and questioned why they were refusing to change procedural rules to address the issue.

'Yes, we do have a process but that process is broken constantly in this chamber,' said Democrat Rep. Alma Hernandez. 'I don't understand why specifically on this we have to follow the process that we're being told we have to follow.'

Just over a week ago, the Arizona Supreme Court released the bombshell decision that Arizona could enforce the 1864 law which effectively bans abortion in the state.

The Civil War-era law passed nearly 50 years before Arizona was even a state does not include exceptions for rape or incest. 

The decision sparked condemnation nationally including from both Democratic and some Republican political candidates who called for an immediate solution.

A week ago, Democrats attempted to advance a bill in both chambers of the state legislature but were blocked by Republicans.

Both chambers of Arizona's state legislature are controlled by Republican.

Democrats have taken aim at Republicans over abortion rights as the issue has proven to be motivating one in a series of recent election ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade ending the federal right to an abortion.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been leading the Biden administration charge on abortion rights, traveled to the state on Friday where she slammed Republicans over the issue of abortion access being returned to the states.

 'Donald Trump did this,' she said. 

'Just like he did in Arizona, he basically wants to take America back to the 1800s. But we are not going to let that happen,' Harris said. 'This is 2024, not the 1800s, and we're not going back.'