Democrats in Pa. attorney general race continue focus on ultrasound issue

A bill that would require women undergoing abortions to first have an ultrasound screening has become an issue in the Pennsylvania attorney general race — even though the bill’s a long way from becoming law.

The proposal for mandatory ultrasounds is stalled in the House.

But Democratic candidate Patrick Murphy has made the bill a part of his campaign, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“So you have to fight against it. Not just say you don’t support it, but say that you would fight it every step of the way,” said Murphy, a former Congressman from Bucks County.

But Murphy’s opponent, Kathleen Kane, says while she agrees the bill is unconstitutional, she doesn’t see a great gulf of difference between her view and Murphy’s.

“His argument is basically the same as mine,” said the former Lackawanna County prosecutor.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is calling on Republican candidate for attorney general Dave Freed to take a stance on the mandatory ultrasound proposal.

At this point, said Freed, he will not.

“That’s playing politics with this issue. This idea of ‘I call on you to denounce this, or denounce that, or do this, or do that.'” he said

There is no sign the mandatory ultrasound bill will be scheduled for debate soon in the House.