Ryan Backed More Than One ‘Forcible Rape’ Abortion Bill
The Ryan-Johnson failed amendment did specify limited exceptions, permitting abortion coverage including when the life of the mother is at stake and in line 16 of the proposed text “… unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of forcible rape or incest.”
More recently and more widely covered, Ryan was among a much larger group of 186 co-sponsors that included Akin of H.R. 5939, “To prohibit taxpayer funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections….”
Again, the text of the 2010 bill, typically written by committee senior staff, included nearly the same wording as his July 2009 amendment with the term “forcible rape.” The language in lines 15 and 16 reads: “(1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of forcible rape, or incest with a minor….”
Aides to the Romney-Ryan campaign say the congressman has been “clear and consistent that rape is rape.” Ryan did not defend the term “forcible,” saying this week, “There is no splitting hairs over rape.”
Asked why Ryan backed measures that referred to “forcible rape,” advisers say Ryan has supported other abortion-related bills that have not contained that language.