NARBERTH, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Democrats are unifying over abortion rights after a series of bills moved in the state House in the past week. The issue shapes up to be key in next year’s race for the governor’s office.
The Pennsylvania House Health Committee moved a trio of anti-abortion bills, including one known as a "heartbeat bill." It would ban abortion for any reason once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Representative Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton County), the bill’s sponsor, says that can be as early as 21 days, often before a woman knows she is pregnant.
“This will save so many lives," she said.
In the past, heartbeat bills have been struck down as a violation of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide.
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Gov. Tom Wolf says he will veto any bills that restrict abortion.
“It is never a politician’s place to play doctor, or attempt to legislate medical advice," he said at an event this week with the Women’s Health Caucus.
“This legislation is a shameful, cowardly attempt to undermine reproductive healthcare and the right of Pennsylvanians to make their own family planning decisions. Its goal is to score cheap political points.”
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Attorney General Josh Shapiro has not officially announced he’s running for governor next year, but is considered one of the front runners for the Democratic nomination. He said the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court may have abortion cases on their future agenda.
“There is a possibility, due to the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated a willingness to take up a case from Alabama, that more could rest on the shoulders of state lawmakers and governors across this country. That is a possibility,” said Shapiro.
"If that’s the case, we need to make sure a veto pen continues to exist in Pennsylvania."
Republicans behind the bills in the state House believe it’s time to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.