A bill to protect unborn babies from brutal dismemberment abortions appears likely to pass the Pennsylvania legislature this December with bipartisan support.
However, pro-abortion Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto it.
Beth Melena, a spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party, told CNHI newspapers that Wolf “is the only reason” why Pennsylvania does not already ban dismemberment abortions.
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3 passed the state Senate and is now awaiting action by the full House. It would prohibit dismemberment abortions that tear apart living unborn babies limb by limb while their hearts are beating. The bill also would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks when strong scientific evidence indicates unborn babies can feel pain. Exceptions would be allowed to save the life of the mother.
On Tuesday, state leaders held a press conference to urge Wolf to support the bill. A final vote on the bill could happen next week in the House.
Here’s more from the report:
[Franklin and Marshall College political science professor G. Terry] Madonna said that Wolf seems to be using his veto pen more often than his recent predecessors in the governor’s mansion. That largely is a reflection of the fact that “Wolf is one of the most liberal governors in the country and we have one of the most conservative legislatures,” he said.
[House Speaker Mike] Turzai said that while pro-life lawmakers believe that human life begins at conception, they viewed the move to a 20-week limit as a compromise to reflect that premature babies are surviving birth earlier in their mom’s pregnancies.
“We’re looking for common ground,” Turzai said.
Earlier this year, Wolf claimed the bill was the “most extreme anti-choice legislation in the country.” He repeatedly has said he will veto it.
Wolf has close ties to Planned Parenthood and appointed one of the abortion chain’s board members as his chief of staff. He also volunteered as an abortion clinic escort for Planned Parenthood and received strong support from the abortion industry during his election campaign.
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Maria Gallagher, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, said about 1,550 babies are killed in Pennsylvania every year in dismemberment abortions. State Department of Health reports indicate that nearly 400 unborn babies are aborted past 20 weeks annually.
“A statewide poll showed that the vast majority of Pennsylvanians support a ban on brutal dismemberment abortions. In fact, the support was even higher among women,” Gallagher said when the bill passed a House committee earlier this week. “A ban on this alarming practice is long overdue.”
She pointed out that the U.S. is one of only seven countries—including North Korea and Vietnam– that allow abortions after 20 weeks gestation.
A handful of states also have passed dismemberment abortion bans, which are the brainchild of the National Right to Life Committee.
The bill also is modeled, in part, after the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which 16 states have passed into law. The legislation prohibits later-term abortions after 20 weeks as medical advancements push the line of viability earlier in pregnancy and as substantial medical evidence indicates unborn babies at this stage are capable of experiencing pain.
ACTION: Contact the governor here.
