Anti-abortion bill doesn’t make it to the table

Washingtonpost.com:

House Republicans passed a watered-down antiabortion bill Thursday after withdrawing a more restrictive measure that some female GOP lawmakers argued would hurt the party’s efforts to broaden its appeal to women and younger voters.

The rebellion on the abortion bill, led by women and moderates, was an illustration of some of the new challenges the party faces as a result of its expanded majority in the House. The 246-member GOP caucus is now experiencing rifts that previously did not exist, and those divisions are largely being driven by concern among moderates that they could face tough reelection battles in 2016, when more Democratic and independent voters are expected to turn out for presidential election.

So this anti abortion bill is basically a retread.  Maybe they think that the  Hyde (that old hypocrite) Amendment missed something.

Let’s talk about the bill that Republicans want to pass, the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”  What is it exactly?

The “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” would ban abortions after the 20th week of a pregnancy. Sponsors said that exceptions would be allowed for a woman who is raped but that she could only get the abortion after reporting the rape to law enforcement.

You know, I wouldn’t object to this bill if it had a different name, banned routine abortion after the 22nd, not 20th week and had exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and fetal anomaly.   Abortion for fetal anomaly must have a later cut off point.  Many of those horribly sad cases aren’t discovered until well past week 16 of gestation.

Some of the anomalies are detected with amniocentesis which is performed around week 16.  It takes some time after the procedure to read the test results.  If there is an indication that the pregnancy should be terminated, the family has to make arrangements for the an abortion.  These arrangements involve finding a qualified physician to perform the procedure. The patient and her family must  scrape up the money for  travel, accommodations, and  the cost of the medical procedure.  It can be very expensive.

No one else can decide for a family whether to bring a severely handicapped child into this world.  That is something that lawmakers really need to stay out of.  Something that is rarely discussed is the extreme life-altering change that caring for a handicapped child is.  For example, a child who is severely and profoundly retarded costs thousands of dollars per month for specialized care.  How many families can afford such an expense?  There is little help out there from agencies and churches.  Most of the time family members end up having to provide the care themselves which becomes a full-time job.  Is this something Congress would be willing to pay for?  I seriously doubt it, if past history is any indication.

I hope the President vetoes each and every bill that does not provide for abortion without restrictions for fetal anomaly.  There but for the grace of God go I.  Mine were fine.  Not everyone’s are and there is nothing sadder than someone who desperately wants a child having to undergo an abortion because of fetal anomaly.

Meanwhile, these “pro-life” people need to ensure that everyone has access to safe, reliable contraception. Nothing prevents abortion like not getting pregnant in the first place.

Meanwhile, many pro-lifers have their cold demonstrations and the pro-choice community breathes a sign of relief knowing that Roe v. Wade has survived yet another year.  42 years seems hard to belief.  Who decides?  Your congressman or you?