Graham says every senator needs to be on the record on the abortion issue. | AP Photo Graham plans push on abortion bill

Senate Republicans, led by Lindsey Graham, are planning to ramp up their advocacy for an abortion bill around the high-profile anniversary of a former abortion provider’s murder conviction.

The South Carolina Republican is organizing a group of his colleagues to speak in support of a bill that would federally ban abortions after more than 20 weeks of pregnancy, legislation that has the support of 41 Senate Republicans and has already passed the House. Graham is centering this legislative push on the May 13 anniversary of Kermit Gosnell’s conviction for killing infants that were born alive.


The GOP members plan to ask Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow side-by-side votes on the Graham bill and legislation written by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that would prohibit states from enacting legislation that places extra requirements on abortion providers.

( PHOTOS: 2014 March for Life)

“We’re going to talk about the 20-week pain capable bill, and we’re going to ask Sen. Reid to allow us to have a vote. Sen. Blumenthal has a bill that’s really a top priority of the pro-choice community. So let’s have a vote on both. I think the topic’s worthy of debate. I know he’s very sincere and I’m very sincere,” Graham said in an interview. “He said every senator needs to be on the record. I agree with that.”

Through a spokesman, Blumenthal replied that his legislation is “necessary to stop anti-choice state legislators from using women’s health and safety as a ploy to enact unconstitutional statutes that obstruct and block women from using essential health and reproductive care.”

And though he said he looks forward to a debate and vote on his bill, Blumenthal said his party is staying focused on its Fair Shot Agenda centered on lowering student loan debt and raising the minimum wage, not women’s health care.

“These bills should be considered and debated on their own, without the distraction of non-germane legislation,” Blumenthal said.

Graham introduced his abortion legislation in November and after a recent lull, the South Carolina Republican is ramping up activity alongside the Gosnell anniversary and — perhaps coincidentally — his own Senate primary in June, where he is trying to avoid a run-off by accruing 50 percent of the vote.

In late April, Graham and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) led a letter to Reid calling for him to take up their legislation; Reid said last year he’d “take a look” at Graham’s bill.

For now the effort remains totally partisan. The bill has no Democratic sponsors — but Graham insists that could change if he ever gets a vote.

“I’m sure we’ll pick up a handful of Democrats,” he said.