Thursday March 28th, 2024 11:47AM

Georgia House backs 'heartbeat' abortion restriction

By Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia joined a string of states moving to enact tough abortion restrictions when the state House passed a ban on most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

During tense debate Thursday, several Democratic lawmakers opposed to the bill turned their back to its author, Republican Rep. Ed Setzler. Earlier in the day, some Democratic lawmakers brought in wire coat hangers in reference to unsafe home abortions.

Setzler said his bill ``seeks to recognize that the child in the womb, that is living distinct from their mother, has a right to life that is worthy of legal protection.''

The Tennessee House passed similar legislation earlier Thursday amid similarly tense debate. Several other states including Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio and South Carolina are also considering this type of legislation.

If the measure in Georgia is passed by the state Senate and signed into law, it would almost certainly trigger legal challenges.

But the bill comes as abortion opponents across the country are hopeful the U.S. Supreme Court with new Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh will either reverse Roe v. Wade, or uphold specific state laws that could undermine the court's 1973 ruling establishing a nationwide right to abortion.

Democratic Rep. Renitta Shannon, speaking against the bill and about her own past abortion, went over time and her microphone was cut off. She refused to yield the floor until colleagues surrounded her and implored her to walk away.

Before her microphone was cut, Shannon spoke about the illegal and unsafe abortion options women faced before Roe v. Wade.

``Let's be clear, no matter what kind of law you pass to outlaw abortions, women will continue to seek and have abortions,'' Shannon said.

Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion up to 20 weeks of a pregnancy. A fetal heartbeat is generally detectable at around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.

The bill makes exceptions in the case of rape and incest, but only when the woman files a police report first, as well as when a fetus is deemed not compatible with life due to serious medical issues.

Setzler previously said he had ``misgivings'' about those exceptions, saying that ``those children are just as innocent as others.''

Republican Rep. Darlene Taylor asked a rhetorical question while speaking in favor of the bill: ``Who speaks for baby fetus?''

``Today I do,'' Taylor answered as she read a prepared speech as if she was a baby fetus that did not want to be aborted.

Democratic Rep. Mike Wilensky spoke against the bill, saying he believed it would be deemed unconstitutional.

``We know that this bill is unconstitutional. We know that there are going to be huge costs to litigate this,'' Wilensky said.

The fast-tracked bill came to the floor in the final minutes before a legislative deadline by which bills must generally pass out of one house or the other to remain in play for the session. It was unclear until late Thursday if the bill would see a vote.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed the proposal in a news conference after its passage in the House, but said there is more work to be done in the Senate. ``I value life and I proudly support this legislation, which protects the right of the unborn at the heartbeat,'' Kemp said.

Kemp campaigned last year on a pledge to sign the toughest abortion laws in the country.

Democrats and abortion-rights advocates say they'll continue to fight the bill and for safe access to abortion in Georgia. 

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Politics
  • Associated Tags: Georgia House of Representatives, Georgia General Assembly , abortion legislation , Heartbeat bill
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