Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has traveled to Mexico at least once to assist those hoping to crash the U.S. border, but is attempting to block a Massachusetts ballot question that would mandate life-saving medical care for "babies born alive." Healey's priorities are out of whack.

The Massachusetts Newborn Protection Coalition needs 80,200 signatures by November 17 to move a question to the next stage in qualifying for the 2022 ballot. The State House News Service reports voters would be asked their opinion on a sentence-long petition: "If a child is born alive, all reasonable steps, in keeping with good medical practice shall be taken to preserve the life of the child born alive." Do you agree with the sentiment of that statement?

Healey is attempting to keep the initiative from ever reaching the ballot by refusing to certify the petition. SHNS reports Healey's office believes the petition was not in "proper form for submission to the people" because "its provisions are so ambiguous that it is impossible to determine, or inform potential voters of, the proposed law's meaning and effect." Healey's office said the question failed to define "'a child born alive" or what is required to "preserve the life of a child born alive," nor does it specify what "reasonable steps" must be taken or who shall take them.

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Supporters of the referendum got a bit of a boost last week when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court granted them a preliminary injunction that allows them to continue to collect signatures to force the issue onto next year's statewide ballot until the legality of it all is determined.

If Healey can't determine what a "child born alive" means, she ought to resign. Her opposition is an overt attempt to allow the slaughter of babies on demand to continue, even after they survive an abortion.

Healey is a disgrace and so is her disdain of the sanctity of human life. If asked, sign the petition to protect all Massachusetts babies born alive.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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