Richard Gephardt: “it is regrettable that today the Republican leadership ignored an opportunity to resolve the issue of late-term abortion…”

“it is regrettable that today the Republican leadership ignored an opportunity to resolve the issue of late-term abortion in an effective and constitutional way, moving forward yet again with a ban that does not include an exception to protect the health of the woman. The Supreme Court has spoken on this matter. Banning this procedure without such an exception is unconstitutional. Repeatedly on the Floor of this House an alternative that contains this crucial exception has been offered, and repeatedly I have voted for it. That a ban would be before us today without that exception can only mean that the Republican leadership wants a political issue more than an effective law. I would hope that any future consideration of this legislation would not suffer from such a flaw.”