Bob Wise: “let me tell the Members what I support. Like most people, I believe that late-term abortions should be outlawed unless…”

“let me tell the Members what I support. Like most people, I believe that late-term abortions should be outlawed unless the mother's life is in danger or she would suffer serious health problems by continuing the pregnancy. Yet I will not be permitted today to vote on this. My language would stop far more late-term abortions than what will be voted on today. But the leadership will not let us debate this. I oppose late-term abortions. I cosponsored legislation to outlaw them. But most people believe that if a mother's life is in danger or there is a serious health problem for the mother, then there should be an exception. That is only common sense. This Congress today votes on eliminating only a single medical procedure, and it may stop a limited number of late-term abortions, yet I support language that stops all late-term abortions, regardless of medical procedure, unless the mother's life is in danger or she will suffer serious health consequences. Abortion is an agonizing decision and an agonizing debate. It requires all views. Yet we are not going to be permitted today to vote and to air these views. We will not be permitted to protect the mother against serious health consequences. I oppose this rule.”