A number of Republicans have come out against Alabama’s new abortion law, which was passed earlier this week.
The law, which is meant to force a Supreme Court challenge to Roe v. Wade, makes no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.
“I believe in exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, and that’s what I’ve voted on,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said at a Thursday news conference. “It goes further than I believe.”
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Friday on CNN, “Personally, I would have the exceptions” in regards to rape in incest. “That’s my personal belief. But we are a party that is a broad tent.”
“There’s Republicans on varying degrees of this issue. It’s a very personal issue, [but] we are the party of life,” McDaniel continued.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 11: Thousands of anti-abortion supporters take part in the ‘March For Life’ through Westminster followed by a rally in Parliament Square on 11 May, 2019 in London, England. (Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Doctors who violate the law will face a Class C felony, which is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in jail and maximum of 99 years.
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who’s widely viewed to have a tough election coming up in 2020, told CNN’s Manu Raju, “The Alabama law is a terrible law — it’s very extreme — it essentially bans all abortions. I can’t imagine that any justice could find that to be consistent with the previous precedents.”
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski told The Hill, “I think you know where I come from on that. I believe that there need to be exceptions.”
It is the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. and is set to go into effect in six months.
