Today, after over 12 hours of debate on the topic, Senate Democrats passed extreme abortion legislation that protects “abortion” and “reproductive rights” with no safeguards or limitations. The bill is just over one page long and goes far beyond the scope of both Doe v. Gomez and Roe v. Wade.

Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) released the following statement in response:

“With the passage of the Democrats’ extreme abortion bill, Minnesota will now have one of the most extreme abortion laws in the country. Senate Republicans spent hours offering commonsense amendments that protect mothers and children, but Democrats struck down every single amendment, sometimes even refusing to discuss them. This bill simply does not represent the interests of greater Minnesota, and goes above and beyond what is already constitutionally protected. This is not how the process should work, and it is shameful that this is how the majority handled such a sensitive subject.”

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 the 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