Slowly but surely, Republicans are Making America Pro-Life Again
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In September 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump released a campaign letter showcasing his pro-life commitments if he was elected President. Among these were nominating only pro-life justices to the Supreme Court, signing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act into law, defunding Planned Parenthood, and protecting taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortions.

After his inauguration on January 20, it took only 11 days for President Trump to deliver on his first commitment when he nominated pro-life judge Neil Gorsuch to the highest court in the land.

Months later, President Trump is making progress on his second commitment when, on Tuesday, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill passed in a 237 to 189 margin, and currently has “strong support” from President Trump and his administration. Currently, Republicans control the House with a 240 to 194 majority. As expected, most Republican members voted “yea” and most Democrat members voted “nay.”

The bill makes it a federal crime for a woman to perform (or attempt to perform) an abortion if the “post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more” with consequences of hefty fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both.  Cases of rape, incest, and those risking the life of the pregnant mo are not included in the bill.

So … Why 20 Weeks?

 

It is never an easy task to get the US government to pass a completely conservative bill or a completely liberal bill, especially when the Republican majority in the Senate is so thin (just 52-48).  Many times, compromises are made to gain bipartisan support. A bill totally outlawing abortions under all circumstances would probably never pass through both houses of Congress.  

Abortion could, however, be ruled unconstitutional if the Supreme Court chose to revisit Roe v. Wade (1973).  Given their ages, justices Kennedy (81) and Ginsburg (84) could very well retire soon.  If they do, it is likely that the Supreme Court will consider taking another look at the abortion debate after gaining conservative replacements from President Trump. If this happens, the high court could potentially overturn its decision that once made abortion legal.

According to Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL), a pro-life group, defenseless unborn children experience “excruciating pain” during abortions at 20 weeks post-fertilization. How could they not? The preferred method of abortion at this stage is Dilation and Evacuation (D&E), where doctors use sharp tools to grab the baby – who is now able to hear, swallow, yawn, stretch, suck a thumb, make faces, and scratch itself – and dismember it as they remove separated body parts from the womb.

The landmark of 20 weeks was chosen specifically because at this point in the pregnancy it has been scientifically proven that the baby feels pain. It doesn’t just feel pain, though – it feels a lot of pain.

Sadly, however, the reality of this bill is that it is an attempt to compromise with the Democrats on the abortion issue.

Will it Become Law?

 

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has already passed through the House.  Soon, the bill will be sent to the Senate, which would require 60 votes before landing on President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. The missing piece to the puzzle, as it has been since Trump became President, is Senate approval. Eight Democrats will need to cross the aisle and vote yes on this bill for it to become law – and that’s if Republicans can overcome an inevitable Senate filibuster. Currently, this is very unlikely to happen, given Democrats’ “resist” strategy of voting against any measure Trump is in favor of.

Unfortunately, this bill will probably not become law this year. However, there is some good news for pro-life Americans, if they can wait until 2018 when 25 Democratic Senators are up for reelection. It is very likely that Republicans will acquire the 60 votes necessary to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act after the 2018 midterm elections. Moreover, Republicans could then start looking at expanding their pro-life vision with their increased representation in the legislature.

Pro-lifers should feel very good about the progress that has already been made but should also realize that the eventual goal of America becoming pro-life in its laws will take time.

It is possible that Planned Parenthood will be significantly defunded before 2020 and abortion will be outlawed and ruled unconstitutional before 2024. Evangelical Christian and Catholic Americans make up a large portion of the Republican Party, and President Trump hears their message of wanting to stop the mass-slaughtering of helpless infants. He will answer these calls to action, and he will do everything he’s capable of to Make America Pro-Life Again.

For now, all eyes are on the Senate. They’ve failed the American people on healthcare. Will they fail on abortion reform, too?  As the bill approaches the Senate floor in the coming weeks, pro-life activists should be asking their Senators:

“Will you ignore the 18,000+ lives per year that this bill will save? Unborn children feel pain – do you?  Unborn children would vote yes for this bill if they could – will you?”

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Source: Red Alert Politics