Commentary

Idaho’s two pro-Life senators, Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, voted this week for legislation that would ban abortions across America after a baby has reached 20 weeks’ gestation. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats used the filibuster rule to block the legislation.  It has already been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The defeat leaves America as one of only 7 countries in the world that allow abortions so late in the pregnancy, regardless of the rationale. We belong to an elite club with the likes of North Korea, Vietnam and China.

President Trump issued a statement lamenting the set-back:

“We must defend those who cannot defend themselves. I urge the Senate to reconsider its decision and pass legislation that will celebrate, cherish and protect life.  Under my administration, we will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life.”

No doubt we need to get more pro-Life Republicans elected later this year to the U.S. Senate. But we also need to press our legislators to fix the ridiculous filibuster rule which has produced so much gridlock.  The nation simply cannot afford to be held hostage to a militant minority.