Florida House OKs Ban on ‘Partial-Birth’ Abortions

The Florida House gave final legislative approval Wednesday to a ban on the late-term procedure that opponents call “partial-birth” abortion, and Gov. Jeb Bush said he would sign the bill.

The measure is expected to face legal challenges. Just last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to Nebraska’s ban on the procedure--a law that is similar to Florida’s bill and laws in 29 other states.

The measure in Florida would make it a second-degree felony to perform the procedure, which is medically known as dilation and extraction. Doctors who perform such abortions would be subject to up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The mothers would not be subject to charges.

Florida’s first law banning the procedure was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge who said, among other things, that it was so vague, it could effectively ban other abortions.

This legislation provides an exemption if a mother’s life--but not her health--is at risk. Bush said he would have opposed the bill if it passed with the health exemption.

Opponents warned that the legislation would be found unconstitutional again because it didn’t include exceptions for the health of the mother.

The organization Florida Right to Life praised the ban, comparing the procedure to infanticide.

“This legislation is clearly constitutional as it outlaws only partial-birth abortions and no other methods of abortion,” the organization said. “We truly hope the pro-aborts will stop wasting the taxpayers’ money by their constant challenges to good protective pro-life legislation.”