State Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) released the following statement on the passage of Democrats’ first abortion bill, House File 1, by the Senate at 3 a.m. Saturday:  

“The Democrats’ abortion agenda is much, much more extreme than they led Minnesotans to believe. Their first bill is a prime example. Billed as a simple codification of law, it actually allows abortions with no restrictions, including partial-birth abortion, late-term abortions, or abortions right up to the moment of birth. This is not what the majority of Minnesotans want.”

The bill was passed on party lines, 34-33. Senate Republicans offered a number of critical amendments—all of which were struck down on party-line votes, and many of which were not deemed worthy of discussion by the majority party. Key amendments that were offered include:

• Ban on third-trimester abortions 
• Prohibition of violent Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) abortions 
• Language that would have excluded sterilization from the umbrella of “reproductive rights” 
• Requirement of parental notification 
• Language that would have prevented the sterilization of minors  
• Prohibition of abortions due to down syndrome