In a second reversal of her position in as many days, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) said Wednesday afternoon that she would support a routine anti-abortion messaging bill after previously raising objections over rape-related language in the legislation, which she had originally co-sponsored.
Ellmers said on Wednesday said that she support the messaging bill. Here’s Ellmers’ full Facebook post on it:
To clear up any misinformation, I will be voting tomorrow to support H.R. 36 – The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protect Act Resources bill. I have and will continue to be a strong defender of the prolife community.
The legislation was set for a vote this week but Ellmers and Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) raised objections Tuesday over the bill, which bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Both of them removed their names from the bill as co-sponsors.
The legislation also contains language that would require rape victims to report having been sexually assaulted to authorities before seeking an abortion. The objections by Walorski and Ellmers sparked confusion among Republicans and caused House Republican leadership to consider ways to tweak the bill.
Democrats also got into the fight with Democratic National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) calling the language of the bill “absolutely unacceptable.” The White House threatened to veto the legislation as well.
