(upbeat music) - I am Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 Newsroom.

Washington support for abortion rights has for years made it a destination for people seeking abortion across state lines.

And now, Governor Jay Inslee says he would consider an amendment cementing abortion rights in the state constitution.

Washington's Reproductive Privacy Act already codified Roe V. Wade into state law in 1991 through a narrowly successful voter initiative.

Amending the state constitution is a complex process that requires more legislative backing than a typical bill.

So why go through the trouble in a state with robust existing protections for abortion?

The answer lies in the amendment process itself.

It's much harder to pass a constitutional amendment than a law, and that also means it's harder to undo.

In contrast, Washington's Reproductive Privacy Act can be altered through a simple majority vote in the legislature.

I'm Starla Sampaco, find non-profit Northwest News every day on crosscut.com.