McConnell: 20-week abortion ban will get Senate vote

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 10/16/17 03:01 PM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Monday that the Senate will vote on a 20-week abortion ban, though he didn't specify when the legislation will come up.

"It's supported by virtually all of my members, and we expect to have a vote on it at some point," McConnell told reporters during a press conference in the Rose Garden with President Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced legislation earlier this month that would make it illegal for any person to perform or attempt an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with the possible penalty of five years in prison, fines or both.

With a 52-seat majority, Republicans are unlikely to be able to pass the bill in the Senate. They would need 60 votes, including the support of at least eight Democrats, to clear the legislation.


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/355685-mcconnell-20-week-abortion-ban-will-get-senate-vote

[Cryptoad]

1. never get to the floor

[kimbutgar]

2. Its just red meat for the faux values white supremist nazi group that met this weekend.

By Wednesday it will be forgotten.

[Stargazer99]

3. it is guarnteed employment slaves at a cheap rate of pay as the lower classes will be

desparate for a living wage job-ie labor will be paid cheaply

[Bengus81]

4. Does that prison sentance extend to Republicans wanting their mistresses to have an abortion??

Just wondering.............

[DFW]

5. No, there is an IOKIYAR clause hidden in the small print.

Republicans do not prosecute Republicans.

[maxsolomon]

6. McConnell is going to bring it up as Reconciliation?

Turtle, please.

[jmowreader]

7. I think they're going to save their one shot at reconciliation for cutting Trump's taxes

The Supreme Court has dealt with abortion several times in the past, and they've always come down on the side of the woman. Even with Mr. Freeze on the high court there's no guarantee this 20-week ban would stand - and having them overturn the federal 20-week limit would also overturn all the state-level 20-week limits.

Another problem with actually banning abortion: it takes away one of their biggest seat-retaining weapons. The people who hate abortion...man, they hate it a whole lot. And they'll always vote for anyone who says he's going to abolish abortion. Problem is, many of the anti-abortion crowd are single-issue voters. If they get their abortion ban, they'll stop voting. So, TRYING to abolish abortion but not really doing it is a lot more valuable, from a tactical standpoint, than abolishing abortion.

The biggest problem with banning abortion? Let's call it the Serena Joy Problem. In The Handmaid's Tale, Serena Joy was the Commander's wife...she worked very hard to implement the Gileadan theocracy, then got really depressed when she found out it applied to her too. A lot of hard-right people are "none for thee and all for me" types. They have no real problem with abortion, just so long as it's being performed on their own daughters - banishing pregnant Muffy to the beach house is so 1880s.

They REALLY want to use reconciliation to force Trump's attempt to cut his own taxes through Congress.