Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) waits to speak at his news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 13. | |Drew Angerer/Getty Images
By Emily Sacia || Arizona Republic
Legislation introduced this week by Sen. Lindsey Graham would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy nationwide.
The post-Supreme Court ruling bill was embraced by some Republicans, including U.S. Senate hopeful Blake Masters. Other Republicans have expressed misgivings, saying Graham, R-S.C., could hurt GOP chances in the Nov. 8 midterm elections with the bill.
Incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Masters’ opponent, is condemning the bill.
The Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act would federally prohibit physicians from performing abortions after 15 weeks gestation, but provides exceptions in cases of rape, incest or risk of the mother’s life, according to the bill’s text.
Medical professionals who perform an abortion on a woman post-15 weeks could be fined and/or sentenced up to five years in prison. However, women who receive an abortion won’t be criminally prosecuted.
Graham’s bill permits states that have more stringent abortion laws, such as Arizona, to keep those on the books.
Flip flop: Masters’ campaign site replaces stark abortion views with softer tone
The Arizona Republic checked in with the major party candidates running for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat to see where they stand on Graham’s abortion legislation.
Here are their written answers, provided in alphabetical order.
