House to Vote on Radical D.C. Abortion Ban on Tuesday
Originally introduced last January, anti-choice Rep. Trent Franks’ (R-AZ) post 20-week abortion ban is expected to receive a full vote in the House next Tuesday. Also known as the “DC Pain-capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” Rep. Franks’ bill relies on spurious scientific claims regarding so-called “fetal pain” and does not include exceptions for women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. The bill currently has 222 cosponsors—and thus the public support of a majority of the House. However, since the legislation comes to the floor under suspension of the rules it will require a two-thirds majority to pass. As of now it is unclear whether it will secure the votes necessary to move to the upper chamber.
Opponents of the measure criticized Franks’ use of subjective medical information to push a blatantly personal social agenda, and questioned his actions as an overreach of Congressional authority. As Washington, D.C. lacks direct representation Franks has been allowed to impose his extremist agenda on taxpayers who lack the Congressional representation to oppose the anti-choice effort.
