Pence Courts RFRA Redux: Signs Anti-Abortion Bill Into Law

Gov. Mike Pence signed into law an anti-abortion bill supported by pro-life groups. It provides that a woman cannot terminate her pregnancy because she discovers the fetus she is carrying will produce a child with a birth defect, such as Down Syndrome, because of the child's sex or race. There are already signs this could ignite another nationwide debate not unlike last year's controversy over the governor signing Indiana's version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Here's his signing statement explaining why he signed it into law.

�Throughout my public career, I have stood for the sanctity of life. HEA 1337 is a comprehensive pro-life measure that affirms the value of all human life, which is why I signed it into law today.

�I believe that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable�the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn. HEA 1337 will ensure the dignified final treatment of the unborn and prohibits abortions that are based only on the unborn child's sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, or disability, including Down syndrome.

�Some of my most precious moments as Governor have been with families of children with disabilities, especially those raising children with Down syndrome. These Hoosiers never fail to inspire me with their compassion and these special children never fail to move me with their love and joy.

�By enacting this legislation, we take an important step in protecting the unborn, while still providing an exception for the life of the mother. I sign this legislation with a prayer that God would continue to bless these precious children, mothers and families.�

Indiana law generally restricts abortions after twenty weeks. Pro-choice groups will no doubt file a lawsuit to contest the constitutionality of the law since it would appear to encroach on her constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks under privacy and liberty rights the Supreme Court says are guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment.

Pence later issued a signing statement for another bill he signed into law that replaces all male-specific pronouns in the Indiana Code with gender neutral pronouns. "I�m proud to sign it into law and hope it serves as a source of encouragement for future generations of women leaders here in Indiana,� Pence said. Do you think that will be enough to placate his detractors? Probably not.