Democrats say abortion is a 'heartbeat' away from being abolished

Congressional and state level Democrats are sounding the alarms that Abortion as we know it, is a ‘heartbeat’ away from being abolished.

Republican-led state legislatures across the country, like Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, have all signed, or are on the verge on signing, a “heartbeat” bill that would outlaw abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Every single one of these bills, regardless of whether they have already been signed into law, are being challenged in the courts.

In the past 60 days, Kentucky has signed a ‘heartbeat bill’ as has Mississippi, whose Gov. Phil Bryant signed law bans the practice of abortion once a doctor detects “a trace of a fetal heartbeat with an ultrasound.”

Pro-Choice proponents say that these ‘Heartbeat’ bills undermine, and will eventually “chip away” at the 1972 Roe vs Wade Supreme Court ruling.

“It’s the Holy Grail of the pro-life movement to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, of the landmark 1972 ruling that legalized abortion. “And this is starting to do that, to chip away at that ruling. A fetal heartbeat bill wouldn’t completely rule out abortion. But it would rule it out about as much as possible.”

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), who is a mother of three and one of the biggest Pro-Choice legislators in the U.S. Congress, came out swinging at the current ‘Heartbeat’ movement.

“States across the country are working to further criminalize abortion. This is not only an attack on women's autonomy; it is part of a strategic effort across the country to dismantle women's legal rights to make decisions about their bodies,” said Wasserman Schultz.

Wasserman Schultz went on to post her summary of several news stories reporting state-specific abortion bills.

GEORGIA: This bill, expected to be signed by the Governor, would require survivors of rape who become pregnant to file a police report before being able to terminate their pregnancies.

ALABAMA: This bill would make abortion a Class A felony. No exceptions. Not even for rape or incest.

LOUISIANA: Lawmakers are still working on passing one of the most restrictive bills in the country. Just like in Alabama, lawmakers blocked an amendment to make an exception for rape or incest.

MISSISSIPPI: The state already passed a "fetal heartbeat law" that is currently being challenged in the courts.

OHIO: The Governor signed a "fetal heartbeat bill" into law last month, which will go into effect in less than 90 days. No exceptions for rape or incest.

KENTUCKY: A federal judge has blocked enforcement of the new "fetal heartbeat bill" while it is being challenged in the courts.