Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo Wednesday signed into law a bill that allows late-term abortions, including partial-birth and dismemberment up to birth. 

Earlier this week, the state Senate passed the The Reproductive Privacy Act 21-17 while the House passed it 45-29. Rhode Island now joins New York in allowing abortions until the moment of birth if necessary for the health or the life of the mother, the Associated Press reported. 

Status Quo?

Raimondo said the bill was about healthcare and signing it was “the right thing to do.”

“It’s a difficult issue and there are good and principled people on both sides of the issue,” she said. “But in light of all the uncertainty in Washington, and frankly, around the country in many other states, there is great deal of anxiety that … a woman’s right to access reproductive health care is in danger. … The bill I am about to sign codifies Roe v. Wade. It preserves the status quo … that has existed in this state for [close to] 50 years.”

However, the bill doesn’t preserve the “status quo.” Instead, it expands abortion in the state by lifting the 24-week ban on abortions allowing viable babies to be killed up to birth.

A Radical Bill

Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews she was disappointed the governor signed the bill. “It is extremely disappointing to see Rhode Island lawmakers cave to pressure from the abortion lobby to pass this radical bill.

“More than three in four Ocean State voters — Democrats, Independents, women, and a strong majority of self-described pro-choice voters — agree expanding late-term abortions is too extreme. Rhode Islanders should not be fooled by the smokescreen of ‘compromise’: this law expands abortion on demand through the moment of birth. We thank all the legislators, especially the many courageous Democrats who stood firm in their opposition and fought for the will of their constituents.”

Pro-Life Response

Pro-life Republicans and Democrats were angered. “All of you! How could you not vote for a woman — for a baby to be ripped apart! In the womb! That’s hideous!” Minority Whip Elaine Morgan said. Democratic Senator Frank Lombardo pleaded with other Democrats not to vote for the bill. “We are all children of God and I tell you, we will all be accountable to God for the position of influence that He has given to all of us.”

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Crowley voted no because she believes in life and pregnancy is a blessing, reported the Associated Press. Baptist deacon and Democratic Senator Harold Metts said he would never vote for an “ungodly” abortion-rights bill because “we are made in God’s image.”

Jessica de la Cruz, a Republican Senator, wanted compassion for the baby, “torn limb by limb” during an abortion. She called abortion “the great injustice of our time.”

“History will look back at us and say: Where were you? … You allowed for children to be ripped from limb to limb with no care, no concern for their literal feeling.”

Now Massachusetts is considering such a bill. The bill, called the Roe Act, would allow abortions after 24 weeks in the case of “fatal fetal anomalies.” It would also allow abortions for teens without parental consent or a judge’s approval.

Nancy Flory is an Associate Editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.