Coventry Senator Wants 'Trigger Amendment' In Abortion Bill

A Rhode Island Senator said Wednesday morning that he will be introducing a bill to prevent the abortion rights bill from going into effect unless federal Roe v. Wade protections are overturned. Coventry Senator Leonidas Raptakis will propose a "trigger amendment" during Wednesday night's debate.

The full Senate is set to debate the House of Representative's "Reproductive Privacy Act," which codifies abortion rights protected by Roe v. Wade into Rhode Island law. The bill was sent to the full Senate after Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Erin Lynch Prata transferred the bill to the Health and Human Services Committee, where it was overwhelmingly approved in a vote of eight votes to two on Thursday evening.

Democratic Senator Raptakis said he thinks the bill is "a good compromise."

"Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land for decades and I do not think it will be overturned in the near future. With my amendment, if any portion of the law is overturned, this legislation will immediately become law in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, without the passage of this amendment, I cannot vote in support of the Reproductive Privacy Act," Raptakis said.

The bill is set to hit the Senate floor for debate and a vote at approximately 4 p.m.

Protesters on both sides of the issue are once again expected to turn out in full force.

"Praying fervently today that God will enlighten the minds and hearts of R.I. State Senators to vote against the horrible, extreme pro-abortion legislation being considered today," Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin tweeted Wednesday morning.

Planned Parenthood issued a call to Rhode Islanders, saying "the time is now" to show support for abortion rights in the state.

Should the amended version of the bill pass the Senate Wednesday evening, it will return to the House of Representatives, where it will immediately be considered if the chamber is still in session, The Providence Journal's Katherine Gregg reported.

Rhode Island Abortion Rights Bill Coverage:

• RI Abortion Rights Bill Approved By Committee
• Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Abortion Rights Bill Decision
• RI Senate Committee To Vote On House Abortion Rights Bill
• Rhode Island Abortion Protection Bill Rejected
• Abortion Bill Succeeds In The House With 44-30 Vote