Differences Resolved, House GOP Prepares to Reintroduce Pain-Capable Abortion Ban Next Week

National Review ^ | 05/08/2015 | By Joel Gehrke

[SeekAndFind]

House Republicans will vote next week to ban most abortions after the fifth month of pregnancy, ending an intraparty debate that drove a wedge between the GOP and its pro-life base when party leadership had to cancel a vote on the bill the night before the March for Life in January.

“Life is precious and we must do everything we can to fight for it and protect it,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) told The Weekly Standard on Friday. “Our commitment for the House to consider this important legislation has been steadfast and I am proud of the work of our members to prepare this bill for House consideration next week.”

The original version of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act fell apart because several lawmakers, including some of the GOP women who shepherded the legislation through the House in 2013, protested a provision mandating that a victim or rape or incest would have to report the crime to law enforcement in order to qualify for an exception to the 20-week abortion ban.

Pro-life activists demanded the requirement stay in place in order to prevent doctors who make money off of abortions from getting around the ban by falsely claiming the woman was raped.

House Republican Conference chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash) convened a meeting of pro-life activists groups and leading GOP congresswomen following the frustrating March for Life setback with a straightforward goal: The two wings of the pro-life movement needed to collaborate to revive the pain-capable bill. Some of the lawmakers were angered by the pro-lifers’ demands, while the activists felt betrayed.

[lucky american]

This is a step in the right direction. Now let’s build on this like the left does and work to get the amendment back into the next bill. It’s not the baby’s fault mom didn’t report a rape on a certain time.

[lucky american]

This is a step in the right direction. Now let’s build on this like the left does and work to get the amendment back into the next bill. It’s not the baby’s fault mom didn’t report a rape on a certain time.

[exDemMom]

Well, it’s a start.

There is no reason to think that the baby suddenly becomes able to feel pain at 20 weeks, but not at 19 weeks and 6 days. That isn’t how the nervous system works. Cells that differentiate to have a specific function begin to perform that function as soon as they differentiate. The nervous system is one of the earliest systems to form, taking shape between 2 and 5 weeks after conception. After that, it is a matter of growth and refinement. There is every reason to think that babies become able to feel pain sometime during that 3 week period when the brain and nervous system actually form.

Hopefully, this “pain-capable” bill will help the science of pregnancy begin to have more of an impact on policy—it is not scientifically accurate, but it is a move in that direction.

[RedMDer]

FReepers, Let's go!
Everyone needs to donate!



Keep Free Republic Alive with YOUR Donations!
Make a difference.
PLEASE Contribute Today!



[EternalVigilance]

Immoral, unconstitutional legislation.

“Don’t worry, they won’t feel a thing,” is no substitute for “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are CREATED equal, endowed by their Creator with certain UNALIENABLE rights...”