State Senator Rob Kauffman has been hearing a lot from his constituents over one particular issue—and it’s something that’s not even happening in Pennsylvania. People are reacting to the new abortion law that was passed in New York State.
“I’m getting emails from young and old alike,” said Kauffman, a pro-life Republican representing Franklin County. “They’re asking what is happening and saying ‘you can’t let this happen in Pennsylvania.’”
Kauffman may have faced several other issues in Harrisburg since taking office in 2005, but perhaps none like this.
“I have not seen an issue that has galvanized Americans across the political spectrum for a long time like this,” he said. “In the week that New York rejoiced—had a celebration over the signing of legalizing abortion literally up until the moment of birth.”
“You look at friends, acquaintances, people around you on all political spectrums are united against that. No matter where you sit on the abortion debate, this is extreme. This is far off the mainstream when it comes to abortion.”
Kauffman says he is not alone, that there is a strong pro-life caucus in Harrisburg that is not taking anything for granted in light of what has been happening across the country. “We are a pro-life legislature,” he said. “We have close to a super-majority in the House and in the Senate I believe they are a pro-life majority as well.”
“We are certainly on our guard,” said Kauffman. “We are on the offensive. We are not going to sit back and relax because we have one of the most restrictive laws in the country with the PA Abortion Control Act. We’re going to be active. We’re going to be talking about a culture of life in PA. We’re going to be promoting it.”
“I would warn folks across the country, people who are pro-life, who respect the sanctity of life, to be on guard because the radical abortion extremists are coming to us across America, in very state capital and in our nation’s capital.
Kauffman said he will be backing two pro-life measures that have just been introduced in the House. The “heart-beat bill” would prohibit a doctor from performing an abortion when a heart-beat is present in the fetus. The second measure would prohibit abortion based on a diagnosis of possible Down Syndrome in the fetus.
