By Dave Andrusko
Four days after approval by the full Florida House, the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee, on a vote of 13-6, gave its stamp of approval to a measure that would protect unborn babies after the 15th week, with narrow exceptions. HB 5 passed the House by a vote of 78-39.
The bill is expected to pass the Florida Senate. According to Florida Politics, Senate President Wilton Simpson supports the pro-life bill.
On December 1, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about Mississippi Gestational Age Act which is similar to but not identical to Florida’s proposal.
“This is the right to life and to give up life is unconscionable to me,” said Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, who disclosed that she previously had an abortion but has “regretted it every day since,” according to the Associated Press’s Anthony Izaguirre.
Florida Rep. Erin Grall, who is sponsoring the House bill, said last week that “the Supreme Court’s weighing of the Mississippi law was a factor in the decision to propose the 15-week restriction,” according to Christy Turner.
“There’s significant fetal development by the age of 15 weeks. But there is also a case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, currently under consideration, at 15 weeks,” Grall said. “And … working within that infrastructure of 15 weeks gives Florida its best opportunity to save a significant number of babies, very quickly, after the court’s decision.”
Other House members also applauded HB5. “I think it’s a great bill. I think it’s a good step forward…it’s going to save the lives of unborn children,” said Rep. Anthony Sabatini.
According to Bob Hazen of WESH, Rep. Randy Fine said
“Being a parent even when you want your child is fundamentally a sacrifice. But it is a privilege. It is a gift that God has given us all. It is the highest gift that he can give us.”
Gov. DeSantis addressed abortion at a press conference before the opening of the year’s 2022 legislative session. “I think there’s a lot of pro-life legislation. We’re going to be welcoming it,” DeSantis said. “Having protections make a lot of sense.”
