John Ensign: “the first thing I want to address is: the other side has been talking about the health of the mother and that this bill…”

“the first thing I want to address is: the other side has been talking about the health of the mother and that this bill includes a provision if the life of the mother is threatened. As far as the health of the mother is concerned, a select panel convened by the American Medical Association could not find any ``identified circumstance'' where a partial-birth abortion was the only appropriate alternative. We have heard a lot of testimony from OB/GYNs and all kinds of medical experts that this procedure is never necessary. To argue that it is somehow medically necessary is a false argument. This procedure is so grotesque that when it is described, it makes people shudder. I once described this procedure when I spoke to some high school kids, and I used it as an example. I got complaints from the parents because we talked about such a gruesome procedure in a school. I can understand why they would be upset. But people have to understand that this gruesome procedure is happening in the United States. What we are trying to do now in the Congress is to say this is so outrageous that we need to ban it.…”