'Innocent ChildProtection Act' passes

The

House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill yesterday to protect unborn children by exempting pregnant women on death row from being executed -- an issue embarrassingly bungled by Al Gore last week on NBC's

"Meet the Press."

Rep. John LaFalce, D-N.Y., believes the bill is a violation of states' rights.

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Though the bill did not receive any "no" votes, Democrats spoke in opposition to the measure, saying it violated states' rights.

Rep. John LaFalce, D-N.Y, called the bill an "unbelievable intrusion into state law" and accused Republicans of partisan politics.

Additionally,

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., noted that the states' rights issue would probably end up in court.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., believes the bill will not pass tests of constitutionality.

"The execution of pregnant women is already illegal under federal law and it is doubtful that the Supreme Court will uphold our edict on the state courts," said Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the

House
Judiciary Committee. "This bill is likely to affect no one, but it is rushed through at lightning speed to satisfy some political need," he said, according to the Associated Press.

On July 16, when asked to articulate his position on the issue by "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert, Gore responded, "Well, I don't know what the circumstances would be in that situation. I would -- you know, it's an interesting fact situation. I'd want to think about it."

Three days later,

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., introduced H.R. 4888.

"Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., introduced the bill just days after Gore's appearance on "Meet the Press."

Though current law does prohibit the execution of pregnant women on federal death row, in the 38 states which impose the death penalty, there is no law prohibiting the execution of pregnant women, according to Ros-Lehtinen,. Her "Innocent Child Protection Act" makes it illegal for any authority in any state to execute a pregnant woman on death row.

The bill does not make any statement on the appropriateness of capital punishment in general and does not change any abortion laws.

"This legislation transcends the pro-life/pro-choice debate," said the Florida congresswoman. "Innocent, unborn children should not have to pay for their mothers' crimes with their lives. Today we have taken an important step in ensuring that these unborn children be protected."

The day after Gore's appearance on "Meet the Press, the vice president declared his support for such legislation, but emphasized his position that all women should have the right to abort their unborn children.

Gov. George W. Bush, however, did not hesitate in saying he supported the exemption for pregnant women. In his time as governor in Texas, Bush has presided over more than 130 executions, including Betty Lou Beets in February -- formerly one of the 51 women on state death rows.