Democrats block 20-week abortion ban

WASHINGTON— Micah Pickering’s blond hair waved in the wind as he bounded around the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. He showed all the energy and carelessness of a typical 3-year-old.

Micah was completely unaware of the slow drama playing out around him, even as he posed for pictures, smiled, and met numerous U.S. senators moments before they voted on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The bill would make abortions illegal once a baby reaches 20 weeks of fetal age—the exact same age Micah was when he was born in July 2012. Senate Democrats blocked the measure, but pro-life lawmakers vowed to keep fighting for it.

Micah, his baby sister, and his parents, Clayton and Danielle, made their first family trip from Iowa to Washington, D.C., for Tuesday’s vote, during which they stood off the Senate floor to greet senators as they came and went. They met GOP presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and gave a light blue “Miracles for Micah” bracelet to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of two Republicans to vote against moving forward with the bill.

“We just wanted to give a face to those babies we’re talking about,” Danielle Pickering told me as she rocked baby Madelyn.

Tuesday’s vote came four months after The New York Times featured Micah’s story and others like it, showing how medical advancements are changing the debate about the viability of premature babies. Clayton Pickering said he prayed God would use his son’s life to make a difference in the abortion debate.

The stories are having an effect: A record 54 senators—including three Democrats—voted to move forward with HR 36, a late-term abortion ban that passed the House in May. Collins and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., joined 40 Democrats to kill the bill.

“Even if we differ on the larger abortion issue, can’t we at least agree that children at this late stage of development deserve our protection?” asked Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who noted the United States is only one of seven countries to allow abortion on demand after 20 weeks.

For now the answer is no.

One-by-one, Democratic lawmakers filed into the Senate chamber to vote against protecting children like Micah, except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., didn’t break stride as he walked past the front desk with his finger thrust downward: “No.” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.—shortly before tweeting his support for sage grouse—shouted “no” so loud the entire chamber heard him. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said “no” like she was scolding anyone who could consider voting otherwise—even though polls show roughly 60 percent of Americans, including women, support the measure.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., lead sponsor on the Senate’s 20-week legislation, expressed appreciation for McConnell allowing the vote, saying it wouldn't have happened without his support. Graham noted former President Bill Clinton vetoed the partial-birth abortion ban twice before President George W. Bush signed it into law.

Tuesday’s vote may only be the opening act of this month’s abortion battles: Shortly after the vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee released a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 11 and defund Planned Parenthood—the abortion provider embroiled in controversy for allegedly profiting from aborted baby parts. The money would instead be directed to the more than 13,000 federally qualified health centers that do not perform abortions.

“Sometimes to win the big battle you have to fight lots of little battles,” Danielle Pickering said. “We were honored to do our part today.”