Pa. late-term abortion ban vetoed: Both sides call each other's position 'cruel'

Calling it an attempt at imposing the "most extreme anti-choice legislation in the country," Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a bill on Monday that would have banned late-term abortions in the state of Pennsylvania.

The bill "would ban abortions after twenty weeks except in the rarest of circumstances, leaving no exceptions for rape, incest, health, or tragic fetal anomalies," according to a release from the governor's office. 

Background:Lawmakers send Gov. Tom Wolf abortion restrictions he plans to veto

More:Ripped from the womb? Late-term abortion explained

Nationally, 1.3 percent of abortions happen after 21 weeks, more than half-way through a 40-week pregnancy, according the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research group that supports abortion rights. Only 16 percent of doctors nationally will perform a late-term abortion.

Wolf had previously promised to veto the bill on Dec. 12, the same day SB 3 passed the Senate by a 121-70 vote.

The veto was criticized by anti-abortion advocates, including Michael Ciccocioppo, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. 

“Gov. Wolf’s distressing decision goes against the will of the vast majority of Pennsylvanians,” he said in a statement.

That statement described late-term abortions — which Ciccocioppo referred to as "dismemberment abortions" — as “inhumane” and “cruel.” 

“Cruel” was the same word Wolf used in his statement, criticizing the legislation for not providing exceptions for rape or incest.

More:Pa. doctor: I perform abortions because I love my patients

Kim Painter, writing for USA Today, contributed to this report.