Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, even if this bill were constitutional, it would not stop any abortions, just a procedure. The abortion would still take place using an alternative procedure. I am not going to inflame the debate by describing those alternative procedures; but this bill in its present form, without this amendment, is clearly unconstitutional. This amendment would make it constitutional. The Supreme Court said in Stenberg v. Carhart that the ban on partial birth abortions was unconstitutional because the law lacked any exception for the preservation of the health of the mother, and reading out of the case, it says subsequent to viability the State, in promoting the interests of the potentiality of human life, may, if it chooses, proscribe an abortion and in italics it says except where it is necessary in appropriate medical judgment for preservation of the life or health of the mother. This is what this amendment says. That was in italics. Later down it says the governing standard requires an exception, and it says, where it is necessary in appropriate medical judgment for preservation of the life or health of the mother. That is the language of this amendment. It also says, our cases have repeatedly invalidated statutes, and the process of regulating the methods of abortion imposed significant health risks.…”