Arkansas Senate Committee Passes 20-Week Abortion Bill
By: David Goins, KARK 4 News
Updated: February 13, 2013
A Senate committee says "yes" to banning abortion after 20-weeks in Arkansas.
Representative Andy Mayberry (R-Hensley) already got his bill through the House of Representatives, but the Senate proved to be a tougher challenge.
Mayberry changed his bill today to still allow abortions after 20-weeks in cases of rape and incest.
Roe v. Wade 40 years ago established 24 weeks as viability for an infant but Mayberry says modern scientific research indicates a fetus can feel pain at 20-weeks.
However, it was pointed out in committee that the research is controversial.
Still, you need five out of eight senators to move your bill on, and with that added language for rape and incest, Mayberry was able to convince a Democrat that was on the fence before today.
Representative Andy Mayberry (R-Hensley) already got his bill through the House of Representatives, but the Senate proved to be a tougher challenge.
Mayberry changed his bill today to still allow abortions after 20-weeks in cases of rape and incest.
Roe v. Wade 40 years ago established 24 weeks as viability for an infant but Mayberry says modern scientific research indicates a fetus can feel pain at 20-weeks.
However, it was pointed out in committee that the research is controversial.
Still, you need five out of eight senators to move your bill on, and with that added language for rape and incest, Mayberry was able to convince a Democrat that was on the fence before today.
