Prinsburg rejects proposed abortion ordinance, citing warning from attorney general

A small town in western Minnesota has opted not to consider an ordinance that would let residents sue abortion providers.

Prinsburg said on its website that its city council voted unanimously to deny the proposal brought by retired state legislator Tim Miller, a Prinsburg resident, at a meeting last month.

The city does not have an abortion clinic, but the measure would have applied to companies that send abortion drugs by mail or if a mobile provider performed the procedure there.

The decision came after Attorney General Keith Ellison sent a letter to Prinsburg Mayor Roger Ahrenholz advising that any ordinance preempting state law would violate the Minnesota Constitution.

“In reaching its decision, the council took into account the position of the Minnesota Attorney General and its City Attorney stating that provisions described in the ordinance are unconstitutional and not within the legal authority of the city to enact,” the city said in a statement. “The council plans no further discussion or comment regarding the proposed ordinance.”

Miller, who now works for the anti-abortion group Pro-Life Action Ministries, says he has been working with other towns around Greater Minnesota to pass laws targeting abortion providers.

In an interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last week, Miller said he is crafting the ordinances with help from Jonathan Mitchell, the attorney who wrote similar laws in Texas.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to Miller for comment.