Pennsylvania governor vows to veto bill that would ban dismemberment abortions

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks into pregnancy, as well as the method called dilation and evacuation, otherwise known as dismemberment abortions.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 3, which will move the state's legal limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, has been approved by the Senate and is currently awaiting action by the full House.

The bill includes an exception in cases when the life of the mother is in danger, but it does not contain exceptions for cases of rape, incest or babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome or other disabilities.

On Monday, the state House health committee approved the measure by a vote of 16–10 and state leaders held a press conference the next day to urge Wolf to support the bill.

Wolf, however, had repeatedly vowed to veto the bill, claiming that it was the "most extreme anti-choice legislation in the country."

"Once again, Harrisburg Republicans are moving the most extreme anti-choice legislation in the country that criminalizes abortion and leaves no exceptions for victims of rape or incest," Wolf said, as reported by The Meadville Tribune.

"I have met with women and medical professionals and understand how devastating and dangerous this bill would be for patients. That's why I will veto this attack on women. Put simply, women's health care decisions should be left up to women and their doctors, not politicians in Harrisburg," he added.

Life News noted that Wolf had previously volunteered as an abortion clinic escort for Planned Parenthood and had appointed one of abortion chain's board members as his chief of staff. He reportedly received strong support from the abortion industry during his election campaign.

Beth Melena, a spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party, has said that the governor "is the only reason" the measure has not already been turned into law in Pennsylvania.

Last year, the state House had approved a similar legislation by a 132–65 margin, just three votes shy of a veto-proof majority. Records have indicated that as many as 23 House Democrats voted in favor of the legislation at the time.

Stephen Miskin, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Reed, noted that some pro-life Democrats may be willing to support the bill, but not everyone may be willing to defy the governor by supporting a measure to override his veto. The full House is expected to vote on the current bill next week, according to The Daily Item.