Western South Dakota News

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today attempted to pass his Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that would guarantee medical care for babies who are born alive after an attempted or botched abortion. However, Democrats objected to the proposal.

Thune described the bill as a "basic standard of decency" and criticized Democrats' stance on the issue, which he claimed allows abortion on demand up until the moment of birth.

In his prepared remarks, Thune stated: “Mr. President, in just a few minutes I will ask for unanimous consent to pass my Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This is a very simple bill, Mr. President. And it should be a noncontroversial one."

He further explained: “It simply says that a baby born alive after an attempted abortion is entitled to the same protection and medical care that any other newborn baby is entitled to. That’s all. It doesn’t limit abortion. It doesn’t make abortion illegal. It simply states that a baby born alive after an attempted abortion is entitled to medical care.”

Thune expressed confusion over Democratic opposition: “Somehow saying that a living, breathing baby born alive after an attempted abortion is entitled to medical care is a step too far.”

He suggested that Democrats might fear recognizing the humanity of born children could lead to protections for unborn children as well: “After all, it makes no sense to say that a baby is not a human being a second before birth and is a human being a second after.”

Thune concluded by emphasizing his hope for future legislative changes: “But I hope and pray that this will not be the last word, and that one day soon we will get to a point where legislation like this will not be controversial – and where the human rights of every human being, born and unborn, will be respected.”