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Lawmakers Said To Be Discussing Folding "Heartbeat Bill" Into 20-Week Abortion Ban

Karen Kasler
Janet Porter of Faith2Action gestures during an event at the Statehouse in 2014.

Backers of the so-called “heartbeat bill”, the legislation that would ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, are putting pressure on state lawmakers to pass it during the lame duck session. And the person behind the movement to pass that bill thinks lawmakers might be working behind the scenes on it.

The “heartbeat bill” hasn’t moved since it passed the House last year. But another bill that would ban abortions at 20 weeks has been considered likely to pass in the lame duck session. Janet Porter, leader of the group backing the “heartbeat bill” says she’s heard lawmakers are talking about rolling parts of IT into the 20-week ban.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the Senators to save face and do what’s right and I think it’s going to protect every one of their political careers in the future if they do.”

Porter has been urging supporters to call lawmakers and ask them to pass the “heartbeat bill” before it dies when the legislative session ends this week.

Contact Jo Ingles at jingles@statehousenews.org.