Nov. 2 wasn't only about cutting spending, say abortion advocates

FoxNews reports that Nov. 2 has emboldened state-level initiatives by pro-life groups to place limits on abortions. 

A number of states are looking to pass bills similar to the one Nebraska just enacted.

Nebraska's law, which took effect Oct. 15, outlaws abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is a departure from the standard of viability, established by the 1973 landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, which allows states to limit abortions in cases where there's a viable chance the fetus could survive outside of the womb, generally considered to be between 22 and 24 weeks.

It's important to remember that conservative activists are not just fiscal conservatives, as one might have gathered from the animus that drove people to the polls on Nov. 2. Many are also social conservatives. 

The ConservativeHome poll of conservative activists across the country reveals that 58% regard themselves as equally conservative fiscally and socially, compared to 37% who think of themselves as more fiscally than socially conservative.

The state-level action is a good thing for the conservative movement overall. It's where the action is, and in the national debate, increased attention to the issues will interfere with the GOP's need to build a broad coalition going into 2012.

Comments

[Johnson2012]

Isn't Abortion an issue that is left to the states?

Shouldn't Republicans be advocating an end to Federal meddling in Abortion cases and letting the states decide?

[DonM]

Certainly Congress has no Article 1 powers to regulate medical care.

We can certainly agree that no federal money should be spent funding abortions at home or abroad.

[DonM]

Congess has authority to provide limits to the Jurisdiction of Courts, and I suggest that Congress could pass a simple law limiting the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court from consideration of state abortion laws.