ABORTION BILL STALLS AS ACTIVISTS RALLY AT OKLAHOMA CAPITOL
Source: Associated Press
Feb 8, 7:16 PM EST
BY SEAN MURPHY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- While hundreds of anti-abortion activists descended on the Oklahoma Capitol for a rally on Wednesday, a GOP-led House committee failed to pass an anti-abortion bill in a move that could signal a shift in priorities for Republican lawmakers in a deep-red state.
Three freshman Republicans on the House Public Health Committee joined with a Democrat voting against a bill to prohibit abortions based on the diagnosis of a fetal abnormality or Down syndrome. The 4-4 vote, which only temporarily stalls the bill, is a signal that at least some GOP lawmakers are growing weary of anti-abortion bills getting tied up in court.
Oklahoma's Republican-led Legislature has passed some of the country's most far-reaching anti-abortion legislation, but many of the proposals have either been tossed by the courts or remain temporarily halted while lawsuits are pending.
"For the record, I'm a pro-life candidate, but I also believe in fiscal responsibility," said Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, who voted against the measure. "We don't have the money to defend this bill, so that's why I stood against it.
Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_OKLAHOMA_ABORTION_OKOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-02-08-19-16-47
Wounded Bear
(58,668 posts)MontanaMama
(23,322 posts)If fetuses could raise enough money to defend themselves, he'd be all over defending the bill. STFU GOP. Pathetic.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)to save face in front of his constituents. Probably wishful thinking on my part.
MontanaMama
(23,322 posts)They don't care about saving face. They don't care that they are awful all day long every single day. If you believe in something you fight for it even if you're destined to lose. This guy is a tool.
drm604
(16,230 posts)Fight them in court. Apparently they eventually get tired.
Or maybe they're afraid that if Gorsuch gets on SCOTUS they may actually win, and they'll no longer have it as an issue to get votes.
not fooled
(5,801 posts)they just know that this issue gets the kooks out to vote.
If Roe does get repealed they'll lose their biggest drawing card with the religious nutters.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,123 posts)Their insensitivity to the need to have control of your own body is horrific. Truly dickish.
hamsterjill
(15,222 posts)They have no clue.
Stargazer09
(2,132 posts)In other words, they know that their anti-abortion bills are indefensible, but they just want to please the idiots who think women shouldn't be allowed body autonomy.
Still, it's a step in the right direction. Let's keep making those bills as expensive to defend as possible.
sinkingfeeling
(51,457 posts)Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)For a party that wants government out of people's lives, they pick the most obtrusive issue there is and take the most extreme positions.
I know that this issue is less about sex and more about control. Specifically men controlling women. I just don't get the net gain. What is the true bottom line of this issue? If all abortions were illegal tomorrow and the penalties were severe, where would that leave us? Would the lives of the anti- choice crowd suddenly be elevated, no more suffering, no more hunger, no more war, the feeling of being all alone is the universe would be lifted?
Like I said. I'm baffled by the energy the anti- choice crowd spends to have control over someone else's life.