Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), sponsor of a bill to ban abortions
On the anniversary of
Roe v. Wade, the GOP-led House of Representatives Thursday will return to the people's work of restricting the rights of women and compromising their health care by banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Sure, it's blatantly unconstitutional and health experts say it would endanger the health of women, but it's a top priority for the American people. Oh wait, sorry, pollsters don't even put abortion on the priority list of questions because it doesn't register high enough with voters. Nonetheless, Republicans are anxious to focus on restricting people's personal freedoms rather than on expanding their opportunities.
The White House has already issued a veto threat on this bill, which the GOP calls the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." It's a total misnomer since the American Medical Association has found exactly the opposite—that fetuses do not have the capacity to feel pain until "around 29 to 30 weeks' gestational age."
As the White House noted:
Not only is the basis for H.R. 36 scientifically disputed, the bill disregards women's health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients' health care decisions, and the Constitution.
Also,
there's essentially no exemption for rape victims since only around 30 percent of victims report being attacked to authorities.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), would exempt rape victims from the abortion restrictions, but only if they report the attack to police — a clause multiple GOP staffers said could further discourage victims of sexual assault from seeking medical help.
Though the bill is likely to pass the House easily, two Republican congresswomen have voiced opposition in recent weeks: Reps. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN). Ellmers has said the bill "demonstrates a complete disregard for the women who experience sexual assault." A voice of reason emerges.
She has also warned leadership that it won't send a good message to voting blocs the GOP desperately needs to win over.
"The first vote we take, or the second vote, or the fifth vote, shouldn't be on an issue where we know that millennials—social issues just aren't as important [to them]."