Capitol Report for July 30: Lankford advances Conscience Protection Act, Democrats gather

In this week’s Capitol Report segment for News9, Patrick B. McGuigan summarized his news story concerning the “Conscience Protection Act” of 2016. The measure aims to help medical personnel and individuals opposed to abortion avoid participation in the procedure. It passed 245 to 182 in the U.S. House. Only three Democrats supported it, while only one Republican was opposed.

The CapitolBeatOK editor studied the “Church Amendments” of the early 1970s, when abortion precedents were fashioned. At that time, the House in a 372-1 vote, and the Senate by 92-1, protected rights of conscience for pro-life medical personnel. Even Ted Kennedy, an advocate for abortion rights, agreed to protect the religious liberty of physicians and nurses opposed to abortion.

McGuigan said the views of many at the Democratic National Convention were echoed in comments responding to his story about the Conscience bill, which U.S. Sen. James Lankford is advancing in the upper chamber of Congress. As for the Democratic Convention, McGuigan was as critical of that gathering as he was of the earlier Republican meeting.

While former President Bill Clinton delivered “a great speech,” McGuigan said he had trouble separating fact from fiction in the address. Echoing other students of politics, the analyst said America is “deeply divided,” and no one is sure of the election outcome.

Watch the July 30 Capitol Report