Pro-life leaders say Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz supports late-term abortions, which provide no protection to surviving infants if the abortion fails, during Tuesday's vice presidential debate on abortion. He claims he signed the bill and misled the American people. In January 2023, he signed the Reproductive Options Protection Act (HF1) declares that Minnesotans have a “fundamental right to reproductive health” to “terminate a pregnancy” and does not include any restrictions on abortion.
In May 2023, he signed a bill that removed language that had been on the books since 1976 and required doctors to “protect the life and health of unborn infants.” new law Physicians are required to “care for infants who are born alive.”
CBS News' Norah O'Donnell called on Walz to respond to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's accusation that Minnesota law allows abortions in the ninth month of pregnancy.
“That's not what the bill says,” said Democratic vice presidential candidate Walz.
“This is a basic human right,” he later added. “…We trust our doctors.”
Next, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance put pressure on Walz.
“I read the Minnesota law that you signed into law, the statute that you signed into law, that says that a doctor who performs an abortion is required to provide life-saving care to the baby if the baby survives. It says there's no obligation. Who survives a failed late-term abortion?” Vance said. “So even if you’re not pro-choice, even if you’re not pro-abortion, I think it’s fundamentally barbaric.
“Do you want to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions against their will?” Vance asked. “Because Kamala Harris supported suing Catholic nuns for violating people's freedom of conscience. We can be a large, diverse nation that respects people's freedom of conscience. And this We can make our country more baby- and family-friendly.”
Vance correctly pointed out that Tim Walz rescinded Minnesota's requirement to take steps to protect the “life and health” of babies who survive abortions and replaced it with a vague requirement for “care.” I am doing it.
Vance: “It's fundamentally barbaric.” pic.twitter.com/KukWZS2lRL
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) October 2, 2024
But Walz rejected Vance's accusations.
“Medical decisions should be made by women, and the people who know best about their needs are their doctors,” Walz said, suggesting Vance was distorting the law.
Pro-life leaders say Vance was right.
“The bill he signed actually expands on previous law that says if a baby is born after an abortion, reasonable medical efforts must be made to keep the baby alive,” Seminary President Albert Mohler said on the podcast. It will replace it,” he said. briefing. “What happens if we remove that language? We just change the law.”
Minnesota health officials “say up to eight infants have died since this bill was signed,” Mohler said.
“Tim Walz signs legislation that allows abortionists to withhold care and treatment from babies who survive failed abortions.” said Carol Tobias, National Right to Life Chair; “It's no longer abortion, it's infanticide.”
Tim Walz signed legislation that allows abortionists to withhold care and treatment from babies who survive failed abortions. It's no longer abortion, it's infanticide. #nrlc
— Carol Tobias (@CarolTobias1) October 2, 2024
Citizens Right to Life labeled Walz's record on the issue “radical.”
“Basic facts: In Minnesota, abortions can kill babies throughout the nine months of pregnancy, and multiple babies are born alive and left unattended after failed abortions,” said Lyla Rose. live-action. “Everything is under the leadership of Tim Walz.”
Basic record facts: In Minnesota, abortions can kill babies throughout the nine months of pregnancy, and multiple babies have been born alive and left unattended after failed abortions. All under the leadership of Tim Walz. pic.twitter.com/7H5wmJRabB
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) October 2, 2024
According to Google Trends, abortion was the most searched political topic by state during the vice presidential debate compared to before the debate, when other political issues such as crime, Social Security, health care, and unemployment were on the list. It became a problem.
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Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/staff
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
