On Saturday morning, after nearly 16 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 reach of both Doe v. Gomez and Roe v. Wade.

Senator Nathan Wesenberg (R-Little Falls) released the following statement in response:

“The passage of this extreme abortion legislation is nothing short of disturbing, and it does nothing to recognize science, as Democrats so often claim to do. Senate Democrats forced through a bill that is too extreme for Minnesota—it opens up all abortion with zero safeguards and no limitations. I offered an amendment that recognizes the science of life beginning at conception, only for Democrats to claim it wasn’t a scientific fact. Despite Republicans’ various attempts to offer commonsense amendments that protect women and children, Democrats chose to preserve the language this bill, which will now be most extreme abortion law in the country. History will remember this as a dark day for our state.”

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
• Recognition of life beginning at conception