Energized by Trump win, N.J. lawmakers push abortion ban after 20 weeks

TRENTON -- Feeling energized since "pro-life" Donald Trump won the presidential election, a group of Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion rights activists announced Monday they will seek a ban on abortions in New Jersey involving any fetus that is at least 20 weeks old.

State Sens. Steven Oroho (R-Sussex) and Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) introduced the "Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" in April. But they held a Statehouse press conference to draw attention to the bill seven months later, to build on momentum from Trump's win.

"Make no mistake, when a legislator gets up or Donald Trump gets up and starts talking about a child have a right to exist and not feel pain, that empowers all of us," Pennacchio said. "We leave this room feeling a little stronger."

Trump told "60 Minutes" on Nov. 13 he intended to appoint "pro-life" U.S. Supreme Court Justices. If the court struck down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case upholding a woman's right to an abortion, Trump said individual states could pass their own laws legalizing abortion.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/12/energized_by_trump_win_nj_lawmakers_push_abortion.html