Trump speech prompts battle with Cuomo on abortion

Feb. 06--WASHINGTON -- President Trump took aim at New York's newly broadened abortion law during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, calling for federal legislation that would nullify the state's expansion of late-term abortion for mothers whose lives are in danger or whose fetuses are not viable.

"Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth," said Trump, prompting raucous applause from Republicans in the House chamber. "These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world."

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo quickly countered the president's allegation, saying: "New York has a message to those who spread lies and fear to control women's reproductive health decisions: Not going to happen. Not now, not ever."

Trump's characterization of New York's new abortion law, passed last month by the State Legislature, prompted NBC News to issue a fact check labeling the president's comments false.

"The state recently passed a law loosening restrictions on abortions in the state, allowing abortions after 24 weeks if the fetus is not viable or when it's necessary to protect the life of the mother," NBC said. "The president paints the picture of a healthy mother and child, but an abortion would not be legal in that scenario after 24 weeks in New York State."

Trump, however, argued that New York's action and similar state legislation in Virginia called for federal action.

"To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb," Trump said.

Such federal legislation would have difficulty passing the Democrat-led House, and even if it did, it would almost certainly become the subject of court action that would likely delay its implementation.

Nevertheless, Trump said federal action to curb late-term abortion is necessary. And as if to prove it, Trump highlighted comments last week by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. Trump claimed Northam "basically stated he would execute a baby after birth."

In his comments, Northam was referring to cases when a fetus may not be viable or might have severe deformities. In such circumstances under the new Virginia law, "the infant would be kept comfortable," Northam said. "The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother."

Northam later clarified his remarks, saying he did not intend to indicate that babies could be killed after birth under the Virginia law.

After Trump's comments Tuesday, Cuomo said the president was the extremist on abortion, not the New York legislators who merely passed legislation aimed at codifying Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision finding a constitutional right to abortion, in state law.

"Tonight President Trump proposed rolling back the protections provided by Roe v. Wade -- the law of our nation for 46 years affirmed and reaffirmed by numerous Supreme Courts," Cuomo said.

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