WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill calling for a nationwide abortion ban. The bill would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the physical health of the mother.
The legislation introduced Tuesday is sending shockwaves through both parties with just weeks before voters go to the polls.
Graham’s own Republican colleagues did not immediately embrace his abortion ban bill, which has almost no chance of becoming law in the Democratic-held Congress.
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Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., told Central Oregon Daily News Wednesday he believes Republicans planned to introduce this after the midterm elections and that Graham jumped the gun.
“And they didn’t want to have that discussion in the news before the November election. And so not everyone was happy with Lindsey Graham that he put this forward at this particular moment. But it’s completely consistent with what the Republican leadership has been saying,” Merkley said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
