Mother Jones has tackled the topic twice, but it’s still worth digging into. Paul Ryan is a cosponsor of H.R. 212, otherwise known as the Sanctity of Human Life Act, a bill “to provide that human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization.” In no uncertain terms, H.R. 212 grants Congress, as well as the states, the authority to protect this life. So what are the implications? Kevin Drum puts forth one:
In fact, if this bill were passed and the Supreme Court upheld it, I’ll bet that a rapist could go to court and sue to prevent his victim from getting an abortion. He’d argue that the fetus was legally a human being, and the court has no power to discriminate between one human being and another. He’d probably win, too.
That’s scary enough. But the bill would also likely have the effect of criminalizing in-vitro fertilization as well, since unused embryos are destroyed in the process. Fun fact: Romney’s kids used in-vitro fertilization. Would Ryan support pursuing legal action against them? It’s a valid question, but one that I’m sure no journo close to the candidates will dare to ask.
A fellow journalist, although this time above the border, has this to say:
“… there is no evidence that he believes in criminalizing in vitro fertilization, and efforts to imply otherwise in order to create a neat little conflict (oooh, Romney’s runningmate would put Romney’s kids in prison if he could!) are misleading and irresponsible.”
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/08/15/marni-soupcoff-distortion-overtakes-ryans-ivf-proposal/
He cosponsored a pro-life bill. It has no chance of passing, much less being ruled constitutional if it did. And it would be a declaration, not a regulation. Congressmen do this all the time to support their ideals and friend’s proposals.
I think they are scared to keep the focus on the economy, where Ryan will shine.