WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Sponsors of a bill to ban U.S. taxpayer subsidies of abortion have removed language from the bill that would have applied the ban to some forms of rape.
A draft of the bill by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., indicated exceptions would be made for forcible rape. After days of controversy and protest by a number of women's groups and advocates, a spokesman for Smith said the term "forcible rape" will be changed to "rape" so the exemption from the ban for women whose pregnancies result from rape will cover all forms of rape, Politico reported Thursday.
"Such a removal (of the term's modifier) would be a good idea. Since last I checked, rape by definition is non-consensual," a Republican aide said.
The proposed new term drew sufficient attention to be satirized on the Comedy Central TV show, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Politico reported.
"By proposing this legislation, Republicans are finally closing the glaring rape loophole in our health care system. You'd be surprised how many drugged, underaged or mentally handicapped young women have been gaming the system. Sorry, ladies the free abortion ride is over," said the Daily Show's Kristen Schaal, deadpan, after GOP leaders decided to change the language Wednesday.
