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34429042
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Partial Birth
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34429042
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Partial Birth
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Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Jennifer Klein's Files
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34429042
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42-t-7422560-20140536S-039-013-2016
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Q&A0918.WPD
Page 1
Partial Birth Q&A
September 18, 1998
Q.
Are you pleased that the Senate today failed to override the President's veto
on the Partial Birth Abortion Act by a vote of 64-36?
A.
Of course we are. The President continues to oppose this legislation because
it does not adequately protect women's health. The President repeatedly has
called on Congress to amend the bill to include a narrow exemption covering
the few cases where this procedure is needed to prevent women in dire
circumstances from suffering serious injury. Unfortunately, Congress once
again opted for partisanship over progress, and chose once again to send him
a bill gravely endangering women's health. The President had no choice but
to veto this bill, and is pleased that the Senate today sustained his veto.
Q.
Would the President support the Durbin alternative legislation?
A.
We have not yet seen the Durbin bill. The President has stated repeatedly
that he would sign a bill banning all late term abortions, as long as it contains
a narrow exception covering the few cases where late term abortions are
needed to prevent women in dire circumstances from suffering serious injury.
If the Durbin language meets this standard, then the President would support
it.
Background: We understand that the Durbin bill is similar to the Daschle
amendment offered last year -- banning all late term abortions, with an exception
for when they are necessary to save a woman's life or protect her from grievous
harm. We think, however, that the bill would add a new provision which would
require a second independent doctor to certify that the procedure is necessary to
protect a woman's life or health.