South Central Reporter

Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (Effingham) says he stands in full support of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who last week signed into law controversial abortion legislation widely regarded as the "fetal heartbeat bill."

“I’ve co-sponsored a similar bill here in Illinois that would restrict abortion to the point you can detect a heartbeat,” Wilhour told South Central Reporter. “One of the basic functions of being a state representative is to protect those who can’t do it for themselves, and no one is more vulnerable that an unborn infant.”

Kemp’s bill, the Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, passed the Georgia Republican-majority state House late last month and effectively bans all abortions where a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The only exceptions are instances where the mother’s life is placed at risk by giving birth or cases of rape or incest before the 20-week mark where a formal police report has been filed.

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham)

Up until now, women in the state of Georgia have been able to undergo abortion procedures up until the 20th week of pregnancy. The new law would officially take effect on Jan. 1.

“We’re seeing an influx of bills from the opposite end of the spectrum that would make abortion more acceptable like allowing it all the way up to birth and repeal of parental notification," Wilhour said. "We need to start valuing human life.”

As for the legislation he is co-sponsoring with fellow Republican Chris Miller (Oakland), Wilhour said that despite being filed early in the session it remains stuck in House committee, where it almost certainly will not get a full vote given the legislature’s Democratic majority.

“Political viability comes and goes,” Wilhour said. “In the end, you still have to stand up for the things you believe in.”

In Georgia, critics of Kemp’s proposal include the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, both of which are already lining up to fight the bill as an attempted ban on “safe, legal abortion.”