By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is not only a U.S. senator. She is a mother of two, both children born through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A decision by the Alabama Supreme Court complicates the process by declaring a fertilized egg – including a frozen embryo – has the same rights as a live human being.

“For example, in my case, when we have five fertilized eggs, and three were non-viable,” Duckworth told ABC This Week Sunday morning, “when my doctor discarded those with my consent, that could be considered potentially manslaughter or murder.

“Basically, Republicans have put the rights of a fertilized egg over the rights of aq woman, and that is something I don’t think the American people agree with.”

Duckworth says the decision is not a surprise, reminding the ABC audience she has said for six years the Trump-led Republican Party would come after IVF as part of what she says is its war on women’s reproductive rights. She has spnosored legislation to protect access to IVF and describes the Republican interest as “crickets.”

Duckworth’s daughters are nine and five years old.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].