Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf Vetoes Abortion Protection for Down Syndrome Babies

 

 

On Thursday, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf had the opportunity to sign House Bill 231, introduced by Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Kate A. Klunk.

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The bill’s goal: to “prohibit the abortion of any child solely due to a diagnosis of possible Down Syndrome.”

In the state currently, abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks for any reason. The only exception is gender selection.

The bill would’ve added Down Syndrome to the list, barring cases of rape or incest.

The state legislature had passed the measure on Wednesday, so all systems were Go.

However, according to Gov. Tom, there’s no need for such a law.

The legislation would, as per his public statement, interfere with “crucial decision-making between patients and their physicians.”

Here’s more:

“There is no evidence that this bill is needed in Pennsylvania. I have significant concerns that enforcement of this legislation would upend the doctor-patient relationship and impede on patient confidentiality.”

How would it harm patient confidentiality?

Either way, he believes it’s a matter of constitutional rights:

“The prohibitions under this bill are not consistent with the fundamental rights vested by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

Tom also appears to think people with disabilities aren’t on board:

“Further, I am not aware of a single disability rights group that supports this bill.”

Pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser shamed the governor for imposing a “death sentence”:

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“Shame on Governor Wolf for blocking this compassionate, popular bill. He has signed a death sentence for countless unborn babies targeted for abortion merely because they may have Down syndrome. The Pennsylvania legislature’s bold action is part of growing nationwide momentum to put an end to lethal discrimination – but Governor Wolf is an abortion extremist who consistently obstructs the will of Pennsylvanians.”

As reported by The Daily Caller, Pennsylvania Family Institute President Michael Geer lambasted “eugenics”:

“Governor Tom Wolf believes it’s just fine to kill babies in the womb solely because of a prenatal diagnosis of a disability. That is eugenics. That’s wrong. And one way Pennsylvanians can respond to Governor Wolf’s veto is by marching with us at the first-ever Pennsylvania March for Life on May 18, 2020. Together, we can tell Governor Wolf and everyone in Harrisburg that life should be protected.”

Focusing on the genetic disorder itself, what, exactly, does having Down Syndrome mean?

In 2019, it means one can star in a critically-praised film, as is the case for Zack Gottsagen.

Twenty-something Zack has teamed with Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, and Bruce Dern for the hit film The Peanut Butter Falcon. See the trailer here:

Boasting a $6 million budget against a $20 million gross thus far, the August-opening flick has already grabbed the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award at South by Southwest as well as the Nantucket Film Festival’s Audience Award for Narrative and Best Narrative Feature honor.

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For more on what life can be lived with Downs, enjoy the moving, absolutely incredible video of Frank Stephens — a man Gov. Tom Wolf presumably failed to consult — as posted to Facebook by Ashton Kutcher in January:

https://www.facebook.com/Ashton/videos/394906924596934/

-ALEX

 

Relevant RedState links in this article: here.

See 3 more pieces from me:

Ashton Kutcher Posts Pro-Life Tribute to Special Olympian Frank Stephens: ‘Every Life is Important’

Unbelievable: Harvard Condemns Its Newspaper for Reaching Out to ICE for Comment on a Story – About ICE

A Man in Louisiana’s Been Arrested for Pretending to Be Autistic – so He Could Have His Diaper Changed

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