The 1995 Congressional debate over partial birth abortion: President Clinton’s veto and the aftermath.

Abstract

In 1995 Congress voted to ban a late-term abortion method known as Partial Birth Abortion (PBA). The contentious debate saw many typically pro-choice representatives joining pro-life members of Congress to oppose PBA. Major components of the debates are expert testimonies and use of public moral argument. President Clinton vetoed this popular bill. In addition to sending a press release to Congress, Clinton staged an emotional press conference during which women told the media about their abortions. This strategy focused the media on these women and their stories, rather than the Congressional arguments. Since 1995 Congress has continued its efforts to chip away at the broad grant of abortion rights in Roe v. Wade; they discovered new ways to place federal restrictions upon abortion. Congress has continued to develop new legislation modeled after the 1995 PBA Ban and likely will continue to do so in the future.