Peach Tree Times

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced a federal 15-week abortion ban proposal that would “bring U.S. abortion policy in line with other nations” according to a press release from Graham’s website. The bill would restrict abortions after the 15-week gestation period, except in the cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother. 

While Graham’s bill prohibits doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks, it allows states with more restrictive abortion laws to remain. According to the press release, it “puts the United States in line with other modern societies – 47 out of 50 European nations limit elective abortion prior to 15 weeks gestation.”

Forbes Breaking News posted a video of Graham who spoke about his newest bill. 

“We will introduce legislation, along with a lot of my colleagues, to basically get America in a position at the federal level, I think that is fairly consistent with the rest of the world…that would say after 15 weeks, no abortion on demand except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, and that should be where America’s at,” Graham said in the video. 

According to Axios Atlanta, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) “believes that women should be able to make their own health care decisions with their doctors — not politicians."

This comes as Warnock tweeted that he would vote “yes” to the Women’s Health Protection Act “because women’s reproductive freedom must be codified into law."

This comes as the Trafalgar Group recently conducted its Federal Abortion Law Nationwide Survey from Sep. 16-17, surveying 1,077 respondents identified as “likely general election voters.” The margin of error was 2.9% with a confidence level of 95%. The survey asked respondents to choose between two bills: the first would prevent abortions after 15 weeks (similar to Sen. Graham’s bill) except in cases of rape, incest and the mother’s health; and the second would give women the right to abortion at any point during pregnancy.

The 15-week ban on abortion would still allow individual states to incur further restrictions whereas the second option would prevent individual states from more restrictions. 59.1% of respondents chose option one, and 40.9% chose option two.

According to its website, Trafalgar’s polling methodology includes “Live callers, integrated voice response, text messages, emails, and two other proprietary digital methods we don’t share publicly.” 

In a similar poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), an April analysis polling 1,500 likely voters found 48% of respondents supported a 15-week ban on abortion, except in cases of the mother’s health, and 43% opposed it. 

Although this poll was completed before Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, state legislators in Arizona and Florida were already pushing for a 15-week ban within their states.

The Journal cites a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study that found 95% of abortions in 2019 took place during or up to 15 weeks. 

“There has to be a valid reason (for an abortion after 15 weeks), Joann Belmares, 59, of Pennsylvania told the WSJ. “Has to be more than ‘I just changed my mind.’”

Others support a ban at 6 weeks, similar to a law in Texas and Idaho. Molly Murphy, a Democrat who ran the WSJ poll, said the differing opinions “speaks to the conflict in people’s minds on this issue…Most people want abortion to be legal, but where you draw the line varies.”

A Harris poll, conducted by Harvard’s Center for Political Studies (CAPS), asked 1,308 likely voters their thoughts on abortion from June 28-29, right after Roe was overturned. The poll found “a majority of voters expect a rollback of abortion rights at the state level." Answering “Do you think your state should allow abortion?” 10% said yes to up to 9 months, 18% said yes to up to 23 weeks, 23% said yes to up to 15 weeks, 12% said yes to up to 6 weeks, while 37% said yes but only in cases of rape and incest. 

The Harris Poll also found 60% of Democratic voters would support a 15-week ban, while 40% would support abortion at 23 weeks and longer. 84% of Republican voters support a 15-week ban. Among female participants, 75% would support a 15-week ban, while 25% would oppose it, according to the Harris poll.