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Bush signs ban on type of abortion
Washington, Nov 06: President bush today signed US legislation banning a certain type of abortion, handing its opponents a long-sought victory even as a federal judge sharply questioned the constitutionality of the new law.
Washington, Nov 06: President bush today signed US legislation banning a certain type of abortion, handing its opponents a long-sought victory even as a federal judge sharply questioned the constitutionality of the new law.
"For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth while the law looked the other way," Bush said as he signed the ban on a procedure called partial-birth abortion by its critics.
The White House staged the ceremony, before about 400 lawmakers and abortion opponents, at a federal building named for former President Ronald Reagan, a strong supporter of anti-abortion groups.
"Today at last the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defence of the innocent child," he said.
But even before Bush put his pen to the bill passed by Congress, a federal judge in Nebraska sharply questioned its constitutionality. US district judge Richard Kopf, at a hearing on a suit challenging the new law said, "it's probably likely I'm going to issue an injunction. I doubt it will be nationwide."
Besides Nebraska, hearings were also being held in San Francisco and New York city today on similar challenges.
Fully aware of the impending legal obstacles, Bush said, to the longest round of applause during his remarks: "the executive branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to overturn it in the courts."
Bureau Report
The White House staged the ceremony, before about 400 lawmakers and abortion opponents, at a federal building named for former President Ronald Reagan, a strong supporter of anti-abortion groups.
"Today at last the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defence of the innocent child," he said.
But even before Bush put his pen to the bill passed by Congress, a federal judge in Nebraska sharply questioned its constitutionality. US district judge Richard Kopf, at a hearing on a suit challenging the new law said, "it's probably likely I'm going to issue an injunction. I doubt it will be nationwide."
Besides Nebraska, hearings were also being held in San Francisco and New York city today on similar challenges.
Fully aware of the impending legal obstacles, Bush said, to the longest round of applause during his remarks: "the executive branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to overturn it in the courts."
Bureau Report