Posted on 01/30/2018 3:11:18 AM PST by MarvinStinson
The Senate blocked a bill on Monday that would ban abortion after the mother reached 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which passed the House 237-189 in October, fell short of the 60 votes it needed to pass the Senate. A bipartisan majority voted 51-46 in favor of the bill, but those senators were unable to overcome the filibuster blocking the bill's passage.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) sponsored the bill on the floor of the Senate, which President Donald Trump publicly supported during the March for Life on Jan. 19. Democratic Sens. Bob Casey (Penn.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), and Joe Donnelly (Ind.) crossed the aisle to vote in favor of the bill.
The bill would have made it illegal for a person to perform, or even attempt to perform, an abortion if the fetus was at or beyond 20 weeks of gestation. A person in violation would have been criminally charged with a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
Under the proposed legislation, a woman who sought an abortion at this point in the pregnancy would be charged with conspiring to violate the bill’s provisions.
There would be exceptions to the bill’s outlined regulation on those whose life is endangered by the pregnancy or became pregnant through rape or incest.
During Monday’s arguments on the Senate floor, Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said new scientific studies have proven that babies can feel pain at 20 weeks in the womb.
"As early as 20 weeks post-fertilization, which is about halfway through the pregnancy, scientists and our doctors now tell that is this unborn baby can feel pain," Sasse said.
In an official statement from the White House, Trump said it was "disappointing that despite support from a bipartisan majority of U.S. Senators, this bill was blocked from further consideration."
"Scientific studies have demonstrated that babies in the womb feel pain at twenty weeks," Trump said.
The United States is one of seven countries in the world that allow abortions at 20 weeks. China and North Korea are some of the few that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
"We must defend those who cannot defend themselves. I urge the Senate to reconsider its decision and pass legislation that will celebrate, cherish, and protect life," Trump said.
What kind of psychopath after 5 months of pregnancy suddenly decides “Hey you know what? I don’t want this kid”?
I don’t know when the 60 vote thing became the norm in the Senate for every bill, but it is total nonsense from just about every perspective one cares to view it.
“Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) sponsored the bill on the floor of the Senate ...”
If you ever wondered how he gets elected, there it is. He knew that bill had no chance of clearing 60 votes, but he gets to go back to S.C. and crow about his pro life stance.
May God hold each and every one of them guilty of mass murder.
Time to get rid of that stupid 60 Vote AKA: Byrd Rule.
I had a placenta abruptia at 17 weeks. My BABY was itty, bitty, fully-formed and had eye lashes. We have castings of her hands and feet. Can’t imagine any soulless creature not identifying that she was a BABY !
“Senate Democrats Refuse To Grant Legal Status To Children Dreaming Of Being Born”
https://twitter.com/TheBabylonBee/status/958127955162599424
I’m pro like but if abortion is not going to be outlawed then 12 weeks should be the max. 12 weeks is bad enough.
Ahh, yes, Bob Casey casting his semi-annual “see I’m REALLY Pro Life (cough cough....hack hack) vote on a bill he already knows is DOA.
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