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President Obama, through a White House policy statement, has threatened to veto the House’s bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks if it reaches his desk.

The White House responded to the likelihood that the House will pass the bill tomorrow with a veto threat. The Executive Office of the President put out a statement telling House Republicans that their abortion ban bill has zero chance of ever becoming law:



The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1797, which would unacceptably restrict women’s health and reproductive rights and is an assault on a woman’s right to choose. Women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care, and Government should not inject itself into decisions best made between a woman and her doctor.

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Forty years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose. This bill is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and shows contempt for women’s health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients’ health care decisions, and the Constitution. The Administration is continuing its efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, expand access to contraception, support maternal and child health, and minimize the need for abortion. At the same time, the Administration is committed to the protection of women’s health and reproductive freedom and to supporting women and families in the choices they make.

If the President were presented with this legislation, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill.

President Obama would veto the bill if he had the chance to, but that will never happen. This bill will go straight from the House of Representatives and into Harry Reid’s trash can. If it does somehow get to the Senate floor for a vote, it will be easily defeated.

The House bill is the handiwork of Rep. Trent “The incidents of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” Franks, who was kind enough to add a rape exception to the bill. All of this overlooks the fact that the bill Rep. Franks is pushing is unconstitutional, and that House Republicans are lining up to commit an unconstitutional act for the sake of appealing to the anti-choice crowd.

The big takeaway from tomorrow will be that instead of creating jobs or doing anything to help our economy, House Republicans are going to waste more taxpayer money on a pointless show vote that will only serve to enrage and alienate women.

Republicans may be trying to control your body, but with veto pen in hand, President Obama’s got your back.