Ahead of the crucial mid-term elections in November, the United States (US) Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Tuesday announced a proposal to institute a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks “in line with other modern societies” like France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and other European nations.
According to his bill, titled ‘Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act,’ doctors would be prohibited from performing abortions after 15 weeks except in cases of rape, incest, or risks to the life and physical health of the mother. To this end, doctors who violate the ban would be sentenced to up to five years in prison. It would also allow for state laws that are more protective of unborn life.
Republican Senator Graham is pushing a radical bill for a nationwide abortion ban
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 13, 2022
For MAGA Republicans—it's always been about making abortion illegal everywhere
Dems are fighting to protect abortion rights
MAGA Republicans want to punish women & doctors for carrying them out
Speaking at a press conference alongside female anti-abortion activists in the Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Graham called his proposal “eminently reasonable,” saying, “Abortion is not banned in America. It’s left up to the elected officials in America to define the issue,” and added that the country should “make some decisions.”
Though Graham acknowledged that it’s unlikely that his bill would be passed since Congress is controlled by the Democrats, he expressed hope at being able to “debate on it and vote on it,” especially because the Democrats have been trying to push to codify the right to abortion and protect doctors who perform the procedure. “They [Democrats] had the chance to vote on their bill. I’m asking for a chance to vote on my bill,” he said.
With Roe now out of their way, extreme MAGA Republicans are gleefully charging ahead with their deadly crusade to punish and control women’s health decisions.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 13, 2022
Graham’s proposal appears to have left even his fellow Republicans divided, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) stated that “most of the members of my conference prefer that this be dealt with at the state level.” He also mentioned that Republican candidates “are quite capable of handling this issue,” as how people “feel about the issue [...] may be different in different states.”
In a similar vein, Senator John Cornyn of Texas told ABC News, “My preference is to have each state handle those issues.”
In contrast, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), who is running for re-election this year, said she supports women’s reproductive freedoms and is in favour of codifying national abortion rights.
To oppose this legislation takes you out of the mainstream of the world.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 13, 2022
The Democrat desire for abortion on demand up until the moment of birth puts us in a club of seven that includes North Korea and China.
Amid such opposing views within the Republican party, the second-highest ranked party leader, Senator John Thune (R-SD), said Graham’s bill was attempting to “probably change the conversation a little bit.” “Democrats are implying that all Republicans are for a ban without exceptions, and that’s not true,” he remarked, noting, “There are Republicans who are in favour of restrictions.”
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the “extreme piece of legislation that is not in line with the majority of Americans.” “This bill is wildly out of step with what Americans believe,” she said, noting that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “fighting for progress, while Republicans are fighting to take us back.”
WATCH: Lindsey Graham: “If we take back the House and the Senate I can assure you we’ll have a vote on our [nationwide abortion ban].” pic.twitter.com/GsdRERVWp4
— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) September 13, 2022
Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asserted, “Proposals like the one today send a clear message from MAGA Republicans to women across the country: your body, our choice,” adding, “A nationwide abortion ban — that’s the contrast between the two parties, plain and simple.” Likewise, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remarked that given the chance, the Republicans “will work to pass laws even more draconian than this bill.”
Graham’s bill comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade judgement and effectively abolishing the federal right to abortion in June. The court thus awarded the power to determine the right to abortion to state legislatures. The SC judgement was a ruling on the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which was brought in to check the validity of a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. After hearing the arguments, the law was upheld in December, thus challenging existing laws on the right to abortion.