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Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was incensed after Democrats passed the Women’s Health Protection Act and she showed it in front of reporters.
The firebrand representative tore a strip off of Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell on Friday on the steps of the Capitol building after House Democrats passed the bill, which would codify Roe V Wade if passed by the Senate and signed by the president, Fox News reported.
“Horrendous,” Rep. Greene shouted at the Democrats. “You should all be ashamed.”
.@MTG and @RepDebDingell just got into screaming match on steps of Capitol after MTG heckled Democrats holding a press conf after passing legislation responding to Texas abortion law pic.twitter.com/Kq11xko04r
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) September 24, 2021
Dingell, a Michigan representative, shouted back at Greene and accused her of showing a “lack of civility.”
“You know what?” Greene shouted back. “Killing a baby up until birth is a lack of civility. It’s called murder.”
“We have lots of laws we follow,” Dingell shouted back at her. “You should practice the basic thing you’re taught in church: Respect your neighbor.”
“Taught in church? Are you kidding me? Try being a Christian and supporting life,” Green hit back.
“You try being a Christian and treat your colleagues decently!” Dingell responded.
Dingell then looked like she fell down one of the steps and was helped by fellow Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone.
“Watch your step, lady. You’re going to fall down,” Greene said. “Control yourself.”
Dingell shared a video of the argument on Twitter saying “Two things we learned today. 1- Be a good neighbor 2- Don’t mess with Michigan women.”
Two things we learned today.
1- Be a good neighbor
2- Don’t mess with Michigan women https://t.co/bXOCQmqWay— Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) September 24, 2021
Greene responded in a statement to Fox News.
“Two things we learned today,” she said. “1- All House Democrats are evil and will kill unborn babies all the way up to birth & then celebrate. 2- You might fall down the stairs when your unhinged & hypocritically preaching about being civil, going to church & killing babies.”
The bill they passed is largely symbolic as Republicans have vowed to block it in the Senate and even pro-choice Republican Sen. Susan Collins does not support it as written.
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who says that she supports abortion rights, announced that she opposes the Democrats’ Women’s Health Protection Act, “which would prohibit states from enacting restrictions on abortion through fetal viability,” The Los Angeles Times reported.
The House is expected to approve the bill Friday. In the Senate, Democratic leaders are considering whether to bring it to a vote.
Democrats, led by bill author Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, say their legislation would codify the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
But in a brief interview, Collins said the bill goes further than that by interfering with existing law that ensures health professionals who object to abortion are not required to participate in it.
The senator still said she supports protecting Roe V Wade but had issues with this bill.
“I support codifying Roe. Unfortunately the bill … goes way beyond that. It would severely weaken the conscious exceptions that are in the current law,” she said. The senator said she found parts of the bill’s language “extreme.”
She said that the legislation would damage the Religious Freedom Restoration Act which protects people’s ability to practice their religion.
“This ‘carve out’ would be unprecedented, and I do not believe it is necessary to codify Roe,” she said.
The House is still expected to pass the bill on Friday and Democrat leaders in the Senate “are considering whether to bring it to a vote.”
The debate regarding abortion rights has become a major issue since Republicans in Texas passed an extremely restrictive abortion bill that would allow private citizens to sue anyone involved in abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and that has Joe Biden’s Justice Department fighting back.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that his agency will “protect those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services” under a federal law referred to as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
“The department will provide support from federal law enforcement when an abortion clinic or reproductive health center is under attack,” he added. “We will not tolerate violence against those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services, physical obstruction or property damage in violation of the FACE Act.”
