How would the bills restrict abortion access?

During the past year, a number of bills that would prevent women’s access to an abortion have passed through the Pennsylvania State Senate. House Bill 1977, proposed by Republican Sen. Doug Mastriano and Republican Rep. Stephanie Borowicz both from Pennsylvania, would ban abortions after six weeks. Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates said these bills are unconstitutional, and that bills like these “seek to be the most extreme abortion bans in the country.”

“Despite the fact that it is clearly unconstitutional, legislators are yet again attempting to ban abortions at six weeks—before many people would even know they are pregnant,” Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania advocates said.

Who proposed the bills?

Mastriano and Borowicz, the authors of HB 1977, said they wrote this bill proposal in an attempt to advocate for unborn babies because they cannot advocate for themselves. In her defense of the bill, Borowicz referenced the Bible.

“If a person is pronounced dead when their heart stops, why are they not considered alive when their heartbeat begins?” said Rep. Borowicz. “Psalm 139: 13-14 makes it simple: ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.’ At the most fundamental level, this heartbeat bill would effectively guarantee that future Pennsylvania children have the right to be born.”

What is Wolf’s stance on the proposed bills?

Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, has repeatedly said  he will block any version of a bill that bans a woman’s right to choose. On Nov. 21, Wolf posted a video to his Twitter page showing him signing a veto against one of the bills: 

“The only thing keeping Pennsylvania from going backward on abortion rights is my veto. The Republican legislature continues to create legislation that take away women’s reproductive rights. Join me in calling on the state legislature to #StopTheBans,” Wolf tweeted on Dec. 6.

Why is he opposed to the proposed bill?

Wolf has said his continued opposition to bills that restrict abortion is because he considers these bills to lack scientific backing and violate the individual freedoms of women:

“My administration is committed to reducing maternal mortality and giving women, children and families the support that they need to succeed,” Wolf said. “This should be our focus, not regressive policies that make it harder for vulnerable people making difficult and deeply personal decisions.”