Although Gov. Tom Corbett and former Gov. Ed Rendell have both commented on the West Philadelphia abortion facility, dubbed the “House of Horrors,” state Sen. Jake Corman decided to do something.

Sen. Corman (R-Bellefonte) reached out to social conservative voters with his announcement to introduce legislation that will require state Department of Health officials to provide licensing and annual inspections for abortion clinics within the Commonwealth.

With the legislation, Corman makes inroads with a critical demographic in a U.S. Senate Republican primary election. It may also help him take on Sen. Bob Casey, if Corman makes it through the primary.

According to a Jan. 11 Public Policy Poll, nine percent of GOP voters said Corman would be the best to take on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in 2012.

Read the full release:

Senator Jake Corman (R- Bellefonte) announced today that he will be introducing legislation which would provide for the licensing and annual inspections of abortion facilities located within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This week, a doctor who operated an abortion facility in West Philadelphia was charged with eight counts of murder in the death of seven babies and one of his patients.  His wife and eight employees were also charged in the case.

“The gruesome details of the alleged tragedies which took place for decades at this house of horrors have been widely reported,” said Corman.  “The most disturbing question which must be answered is how was this allowed to go on for so long?”

Pennsylvania law does not provide for licensing of abortion clinics or require annual inspections of the facilities.  The abortion clinic in this case had not been inspected since 1993.

“My legislation would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to perform annual inspections for each abortion facility,” explained Corman.  “In addition, minimum health and safety standards would be implemented for all abortion clinics, the same safety standards which other healthcare facilities must meet in the state.  We must require the same safety measures that are required in all healthcare facilities in Pennsylvania, to be met by these clinics.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati gave his whole-hearted endorsement to the measure, “Senator Corman’s legislation will go a long way to ensuring that the horrific acts which took place in West Philadelphia will not be repeated in the future,” he said.