IN OUR VIEW | No Chance of Success: Arkansas abortion ban political showboating

On Monday, state senators approved a measure that would effectively ban almost all abortions in Arkansas.

The proposal, passed on a 27-7 vote, makes abortion illegal unless the mother's life is at risk.

There is no exception for victims of rape or incest.

Now the bill goes to the state House of Representatives. If successful there it goes to Gov. Asa Hutchinson - where we expect it to die.

For good reason. The heartless lack of any exception for rape or incest victims should be enough to spike the bill. But if you need more, then how much are you willing to pay for political showboating? This legislation has zero chance of surviving inevitable court challenges.

The bill's sponsors know this. But they say it could be a test case that would give the U.S. Supreme Court an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade. Not going to happen. But the bill will increase their bona fides with anti-abortion voters.

We are pro-life and welcome viable legislation to that end. But this bill would only increase the suffering of rape and incest victims and cost taxpayer dollars with no hope of a successful outcome.

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