In 2002, Congress passed the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, clarifying that the protections of federal law apply to infants born in the process of attempted abortions, with strong bipartisan support. Now Arizona Republican representative Trent Franks is trying to put some teeth into that law. His bill would subject anyone who kills an infant to criminal prosecution for murder.

President Obama, who has a history of trying to protect infanticide from restrictions, issued a veto threat against the bill last week. The relevant language is terse: “H.R. 3504 would impose new legal requirements related to the provision of abortion services in certain circumstances, which would likely have a chilling effect, reducing access to care.” No further explanation is given. Chilling indeed.