In an emotionally-charged speech, Minnesota state legislator Ben Davis pleaded with Democrats in the state’s lower chamber to support a bill designed to protect the life of a baby who is born after an attempted abortion. Davis admitted being “confounded” why they were even debating the issue. Of course, the bill requires debate with a party who, under Governor Tim Walz, seized upon the overturning of Roe and legalized abortion up until birth and even in the case where the baby survives an abortion.
Minnesota has some of the most “progressive” laws surrounding abortion in the entire nation. Codified thanks to a Democrat trifecta in the previous legislator, consisting of control of the governor’s office, House, and Senate, state law was amended to allow for the removal of a 24-hour waiting period, along with a counseling session, removal of a viability limit, removal of parental consent for minors seeking an abortion, and no requirement to perform life-saving care on an infant who survives an attempted abortion.
“I can’t believe what I heard earlier from the corner in that room, that somehow voting Green for this bill, it was explained it’s going to do the opposite of what the bill actually says. I heard words that said, what a fraud this bill is. This bill protects the lives of human beings, little baby boys and little baby girls. That’s what this bill does,” Representative Davis implored, adding, “we all need to have a heart in this room this afternoon, a born alive infant as the result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person and accorded immediate protection under the law a baby boy or a baby girl who survives an abortion outside the womb, breathing with a heartbeat.
He reiterated his stance that the bill in question would provide life-saving protection for babies. He repeatedly expressed disbelief that someone could oppose wanting to protect a newborn child. “It protects baby boys and baby girls. And I got to tell you, you got to spin things pretty good to say, oh, that’s actually what you’ll be voting against if you vote yes on this bill. I the HF 24 ensures that babies born alive during abortion are given life saving care. That’s what this bill does, and that board should be lit up green.”
Davis did not get into details about what the “procedure” looks like to terminate a child post-failed abortion. In Minnesota Statute, doctors are only required to comfort the child. The idea of providing “comfort” is intentionally vague. Notice, too, that Davis kept reiterating how Democrats presented a distorted interpretation of what the bill entailed. He accused them of “spinning” narratives and how his approach was a “fraud.” Finishing this part of his speaking, Davis implored Democrats to find “compassion.”
“I want to speak with a heart of compassion about this issue, and I believe we all do, but I’m confounded by what I heard just moments ago, and I’ve been speaking with members, one on one on that side of the aisle, pleading with you to join us in protecting life. I it. All you got to do is read the bill, read the plain language of the bill. Last session, when this chamber in the neighboring chamber and Governor Walz legalized abortion up to the point of birth. And yes, I know that’s not what we’re debating tonight. We also took away that language that protects these babies.”
Davis referenced the fact that 24 babies had survived abortion attempts in Minnesota between 2015 and 2024. 24 babies, he noted. The bill whose passage he seeks would ensure each of the 24 was given life-saving measures. Watch this powerful, emotional speech in front of Democrats in the Minnesota House below:
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video.