WH: Abortion ban’s treatment of rape victims ‘disgraceful’

The Obama administration on Wednesday said it was “disgraceful” for House Republicans to push a late-term abortion ban bill that also puts up barriers for rape and sexual assault victims.

“It’s disgraceful that House Republicans would be considering a party-line vote on legislation that would put additional burdens on survivors of rape and sexual assault,” press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters hours before the House is scheduled to vote on a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks.

{mosads}The bill had initially been scheduled for a vote in January, but it had been abruptly cancelled after some Republicans voiced concerns about a requirement that rape victims have to report to the police before they have the procedure.

Earnest said the White House’s previous veto threat still stands despite “some rather cursory changes” made to appease Republicans.

“The bill continues to add a harsh burden to survivors of sexual assault, rape and incest who are already enduring unimaginable hardship,” he said.

The legislation is expected to pass with broad support from Republicans, though it is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate.

Earnest also blasted the bill as “entirely inconsistent” with the GOP’s repeated campaign to keep the government out of the doctor’s office.

“This piece of legislation, ironically enough, would insert the government right between a woman and her doctor,” he said.