Tucson Politics

A document circulated Monday by a Republican legislative staffer explains how lawmakers could weaken support for an anticipated pro-abortion ballot measure by crafting competing proposals.

The potential plan would attempt to manipulate voters in several ways, such as trying to get better placement on the ballot and offering a 14-week ban that's "disguised as a 15-week law."

Its distribution follows last week's explosive ruling by the state Supreme Court that upheld a strict abortion ban from Arizona's territorial days. But the 24-slide presentation intended for Republican legislators doesn't address a possible repeal of the ban that may come up for a vote during floor sessions planned for April 17.

It suggests referring three other measures to the ballot.

It's "more likely that the AAA Initiative will fail if vote is split (dilutes vote)," says the presentation, which is titled "Legislative Strategies for Regulating Abortion (Amidst a Radical Ballot Initiative and Court Chaos.)"

Linley Wilson, the state House's general counsel, emailed the presentation to lawmakers and others Monday, then recalled it. House spokesman Andrew Wilder said the email was sent accidentally.