Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) was asked about why the state’s new abortion law does not include an exception for rape and incest.
A reporter asked Abbott on Tuesday, “Why force a rape or incest victim to carry a pregnancy to term?”
He responded, “It doesn’t require that at all because it provides at least six weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion.”
Abbott added, “That said, however, let’s make something very clear. Rape is a crime, and Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them and getting them off the streets.”
Watch Abbott’s remarks below:
Reporter: Why force a rape or incest victim to carry a pregnancy to term?
— The Recount (@therecount) September 7, 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX): "It doesn't require that at all, because obviously it provides at least 6 weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion." pic.twitter.com/Mbx5JVHG1D
The abortion law, one of the most restrictive in the nation, went into effect last week. It bans all abortions after six weeks.
Abbott’s approval rating is on a decline, according to a poll from The Texas Policy Project at the University of Texas at Austin, as The Hill reports.
Only 41% of Texas residents believe Abbott is doing a good job, while 50% disapprove of the job he is doing. The number is lower than it was in June when 44% said they approved of the job Abbott was doing.
The outlet noted the poll was taken just before the abortion ban took effect in Texas.
On Tuesday, Abbott also signed a controversial elections bill, as IJR reported.
“One thing that all Texans can agree [on] and that is that we must have trust and confidence in our elections. The bill that I’m about to sign helps to achieve that goal,” Abbott said.
He added, “The law does however make it harder for fraudulent votes to be cast.”
The governor then declared, “Election integrity is now law in the state of Texas.”