Ban On Partial-Birth Abortion Proposed In Congress

EWTN ^ | 6/20/02

[marshmallow]

WASHINGTON, DC, Jun 20, 02 (CWNews.com) - US House Republicans on Wednesday proposed a new bill that would once again try to ban partial-birth abortion, a procedure that kills a child after he is mostly delivered outside his mother's womb.

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, predicted that the bill would be approved by Congress and signed into law this year and that it will survive a constitutional challenge. Previous versions of the ban were vetoed by former President Bill Clinton.

Chabot said the US Supreme Court's action in 2000 of overturning a Nebraska partial-birth abortion ban would not impact the congressional ban, saying that the current proposal has new language to address the court's concerns. "We have every reason to believe the Supreme Court should uphold this," he said.

The Court had ruled that the Nebraska law was overbroad and could have banned most abortions. Chabot said the new bill provides a new, more precise definition of the prohibited procedure.

The Supreme Court also found the Nebraska ban placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions by failing to make an exception for partial-birth abortions deemed necessary to preserve the health of the mother. Chabot said the factual findings used by the Supreme Court in reaching this conclusion are "inconsistent with the overwhelming weight of authority" on the subject.

His bill does not provide an exception for the health of the mother. Instead, it contains a lengthy "findings" section that concludes that, based on the extensive congressional hearing record on the issue, "the facts indicate that a partial-birth abortion is never necessary to preserve the health of a woman, poses serious risks to a woman's health, and lies outside the standard of medical care."

President George W. Bush has said will sign a partial-birth abortion ban.

[LisaFab]

Thanks very much for this. We can only hope and pray.

[Zack Nguyen]

It's about time! I'm glad the pro-lifer's think they have found a way around the odious Nebraska decision.

[big'ol_freeper]

Bout time. Gotta keep going back until this abomination is no longer allowed.

[garv]

Excellent. I'm shocked that this was introduced prior to the mid-term elections. Maybe some in Congress do have a little courage.

[KantianBurke]

Great news! Daschle obviously won't let this get to the floor of the Senate though. And I'll believe Bush's promise to sign it when I see it.

[jpl]

"We have every reason to believe the Supreme Court should uphold this," he said.

I wish I could be as optimistic as this guy.

[ellery]

I still don't get this...IMHO, all late-term (post-viability) abortions should logically be considered murder (except in the circumstances where the mother's life is in danger -- then it becomes a terrible choice). Why the focus on one specific procedure?

[dpa5923]

Absolutley right. In the case the mother's life is in jepordy, one could argue "sel-defense". In all other cases their is no justification.

[garv]

I'm sure you're right about Daschle letting this come to a vote, but he did vote for the ban last time. As a matter of fact, both senators from South Dakota crossed party line and voted in favor of the ban. May not be good for his re-election to kill this without a vote.

[Psalm 73]

Every time the RNC calls for $$, (which is weekly), I tell them the same thing:
No $$ until y'all put a bill that would ban partial-birth abortion on G.W.s desk.
Maybe they got tired of a few million Republicans telling them the same thing!

[katherineisgreat]

The pubbies focus on this because the vast majority of the public sees PBA much differently than most abortions (which really, isn't so, although it is particulary gruesome.) Henceforth, it is much less politically risky and much easier to pass a law banning this sort of procedure.

[rwfromkansas]

bump

[jwalsh07]

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, predicted that the bill would be approved by Congress and signed into law this year and that it will survive a constitutional challenge. Previous versions of the ban were vetoed by former President Bill Clinton.

Damned straight Bush will sign it. I've been waiting for this and I can wait a little longer but some can't.

[Salvation]

President George W. Bush has said will sign a partial-birth abortion ban.

BTTT!

[FormerLurker]

It's astounding that there is even a need to prohibit the murder of a living baby whose body has left the womb, but whose nose hasn't quite made it out yet...

Murder should be called what it is.

[Salvation]

We can only hope and pray.

And Contact your Senator or Representative.

[grania]

Every time the RNC calls for $$, (which is weekly), I tell them the same thing: No $$ until y'all put a bill that would ban partial-birth abortion on G.W.s desk. Maybe they got tired of a few million Republicans telling them the same thing

Same thing here...why have they waited so long?

[jwalsh07]

And make sure the members of whatever church it is you attend are kept abreast of the situation...

Whether they like it or not. :-}