Yellow Hammer: Doug Jones votes against ‘pain-capable’ abortion ban
Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) on Tuesday voted against advancing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
The bill failed to get the 60-votes needed to end debate, with Jones one of 44 senators voting “nay.” Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) voted to support the legislation.
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks’ gestation based on scientific research suggesting that fetuses are capable of feeling pain by that point in pregnancy, per National Review. A report released recently suggested that fetal pain is in fact possible even earlier in pregnancy than 20 weeks.
Jones previously voted against this same legislation. Tuesday’s vote came after Jones last week laughed at a constituent asking how he would vote this time around.
Alabama’s junior U.S. senator also previously voted against banning using federal funds for abortions and has been a staunch pro-abortion advocate while in the U.S. Senate.
Jones has been endorsed in his 2020 reelection bid by State. Rep. John Rogers (D-AL) of “kill ’em now or kill ’em later” infamy. Rogers has asserted that Jones privately called him to say those remarks were “right.” Jones, confronted by a tracker last year, refused to comment on that allegation.