Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Measure To Stop Partial-Birth Abortions Set To Clear Senate

For Immediate Release: April 9, 1997 Contact: Rep. Pete Kott (907) 465-3777

JUNEAU - Representative Pete Kott is seeking to outlaw partial-birth abortions under a measure passed by the Senate Wednesday. HB 65 seeks to make it a felony for a person to perform a partial-birth abortion, except where necessary to save the life of the mother. The Senate will move to final passage of HB 65 under reconsideration vote Thursday.

"While leaving intact the right to all other types of abortion procedures, HB 65 punishes the abortionist but not the mother," said Kott. "Partial-birth abortions are not something that we need in the State of Alaska."

Kott said partial-birth abortions, which typically occur in late-term pregnancies, are an inhumane operation that needs to be stopped.

"This gruesome and hideous procedure, which but for a few centimeters would be punishable as infanticide, would be outlawed by HB 65, as unworthy of civilized people. Such behavior coarsens our society, undermines people's trust in the medical profession, and blurs the legal distinction between abortion and homicide," said Kott.

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