Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Stalled Again in Senate

October 2, 2002—Washington, DC: A California senator single-handedly blocked a move last week to bring up the partial-birth abortion ban for a vote.

It looks like a bill to ban the gruesome procedure of partial-birth abortion will not make it to the U.S. Senate floor this session. Pro-life Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) last week tried to bring the legislation up for a vote, but under the "unanimous consent" agreement all 100 senators must agree to the motion and pro-abortion Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) objected.

"I'm amazed that we have opposition at all on partial-birth abortion in the United States Senate," said pro-life Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) who supports the bill.

Now under Senate rules, the only man who can control if the bill is brought up for a vote is pro-abortion Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Allard isn't holding out hope.

"I don't see that the partial-birth abortion ban is going to be brought up by Tom Daschle," he said.

The House has already passed the bill. Even though Daschle has voted for the measure in the past, Michael Schwartz, vice president of government relations at Concerned Women for America, has an idea why he'll skirt the issue this time.

"I can only speculate as to why he doesn't want to bring this up this year, and my speculation has to do with close Senate elections," Schwartz said.

The thinking is that if Democratic senators who are up for re-election in just a few weeks have to vote on a hot-button issue like this, then they could lose votes in the election and possibly cost Daschle crucial seats he needs to keep the Senate in control.

Schwartz said he would like to see Daschle turn his back on politics.

"I'd be very proud of a senator who would do that, who would say, 'I don't want to hear about the election; I want to do what's right and do what my constituents and the American people want done.' That would turn Tom Daschle into a profile in courage."

Pro-life advocates aren't holding their breath waiting for that to happen.

Former President Clinton twice vetoed a partial-birth abortion ban bill and President Bush is ready and willing to sign a ban into law if Congress will send him one.

TAKE ACTION
Call Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle at 202-224-5556 and urge him to bring up the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 4695) for a vote on the Senate floor. Also, contact your two U.S. senators and urge them to support H.R. 4695. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.