Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would have required any medical practitioner in attendance to provide immediate medical care to an infant who had survived a late-term abortion. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, introduced by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), required that:

any health care practitioner present exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.

The bill required “any child born alive to be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.” Failure to comply would have resulted in a penalty of up to five years in prison.

This proposed legislation failed by a 53-44 margin. 60 votes were necessary for passage. Only three Democrats supported the measure including Joe Manchin (WV), Bob Casey (PA) and Doug Jones (AL). Three Republicans were not present.

Interestingly, a Marist poll of 1008 adults conducted between February 12th – 17th indicated a noticeable shift in sentiment from one month ago before Virginia Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s comments brought the issue of late term abortion to the forefront. In January, the poll showed that 55% of respondents identified as pro-choice, 38% as pro-life and 7% as unsure. One month later, only 47% considered themselves pro-choice, 47% pro-life and 6% remained unsure. The poll’s margin of error was 3.5%.

Although this is only one poll, it strongly suggests that when Americans fully understand what takes place during an abortion, particularly a late-term abortion, they find the procedure far more difficult to justify.

The radical new legislation recently passed by New York, which essentially legalizes infanticide, will not be a winning issue for Democrats in 2020.

President Trump was horrified by the result of the Senate vote and tweeted:

“This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress.” “Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth.”

Sen. Sasse, who had sponsored the bill, spoke to Fox News’ Martha MacCallum after the vote and said:

I want to ask each and every one of my colleagues whether or not we’re OK with infanticide…This is about the most simple thing you can say, which is that a baby is a baby, and they have dignity and worth. And it’s not because they’re powerful. It’s because they’re babies. Today is a sad day in the United States Senate. This shouldn’t be about politics…This should be about having a heart.

His full conversation with MacCallum can be viewed at 22:30 in the video above.

One pro-life activist group called on the 44 Democrats who voted against the bill to resign immediately.

March for Life President Jeanne Mancini issued the following statement:

Senators who could not bring themselves to vote to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act should reconsider whether or not they have what it takes to serve. Senator Sasse’s common sense bill would merely require doctors assist a newborn struggling to survive after a failed attempt on her life. Anyone who lacks the basic level of human compassion needed to vote in favor of this should quickly find another job. We look forward to a vote in the House of Representatives so that Chamber can get on record as well.

Due to the Democratic majority in the House, this bill would likely have failed there as well.

Democratic senators denounced the bill, calling it a “political stunt” by the Republicans. New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) said, “This bill is just another line of attack in the ongoing war on women’s health.”