Oklahoma leg. moves to criminalize abortion, imprison doctors

[Pere]

Efforts to restrict abortion rights, in certain states, in recent years have generally consisted of making it difficult for clinics to provide the service (as by "admitting privileges" laws).

But the Oklahoma legislature has now moved startlingly to challenge Roe head-on, with a law to make performing an abortion a felony, with doctors subject to one to three years' imprisonment, and a bar on their future licensing in the state.

Seriously?

[SmartAleq]

I am Jane's complete lack of surprise. With the proliferation of TRAP laws in so many states and the outright capture of state legislatures by evangelicals this was bound to happen. In a perfect world, the day after this piece of shit is signed it would be awesome if every doctor in the state went on strike and eventually packed up and moved. You wanna make providing health care illegal? Fine then, good luck with your prayer breakfasts for plague victims, let me know how that goes for you. These shitbirds think The Handmaid's Tale is an instruction book.

[pickle berry]

According to this article I think it is not going to stand.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahoma...octors-felony/

In all, eight of the state's separate anti-abortion measures have been challenged in court as unconstitutional in the last five years.

and

"Republicans don't have an answer for their failed education policies, failing health care policies and failing fiscal policies, so what do you do in that situation?" said Senate Democratic leader Sen. John Sparks. "You come up with an emotional distraction. That's what this bill is."

[SmartAleq]

State legislators ought to be required to pay all court costs for every law they vote to pass that's overturned as unconstitutional. Maybe that would slow their fucking roll.

[Random Precision]

Of course it's a distraction, just like the idiot bathroom bill in North Carolina. Pass a contentious law that has no chance of surviving a judicial challenge for the sole purpose of getting the Democrats to speak out against it to sway the fence sitters and independents to come to the polls and vote Republican.

It's just an extension of Nixon's Southern Strategy and they roll it out every time it looks like they might lose a major election. I keep hoping they'll miscalculate the prevailing winds and have it blow up in their faces, but so far it hasn't.

[JackieLikesVariety]

assholes

[Rat Diva]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

State legislators ought to be required to pay all court costs for every law they vote to pass that's overturned as unconstitutional. Maybe that would slow their fucking roll.

Like even, they'd just vote themselves a fat pay raise to compensate.

[SmartAleq]

Okay then, how about they get one lash of a bullwhip for every thousand dollars of taxpayer money they waste pursuing bullshit like this. Cost includes their own salaries while they waste time on it. Only way you get out is if you vote against the law or abstain. Person who introduced the legislation gets two strokes per thousand dollars.

[Rat Diva]

Booyah

[eleanorigby]

I am glad of one thing: the SOLE, LONE doctor in the OK legislature voted against it and called it "insane".

I'm sure the Governor will sign it--she's rabidly pro-birth.

This is what happens when people Dems don't effing VOTE.

[Random Precision]

Surprisingly, Governor Fallin vetoes the bill. Not because she thinks it is a bad idea, but because it isn't specific enough and not likely to survive a judicial challenge.

Prediction: Oklahoma lawmakers quickly craft another bill with lots of specificity.

[pickle berry]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

State legislators ought to be required to pay all court costs for every law they vote to pass that's overturned as unconstitutional. Maybe that would slow their fucking roll.

Hells to the yeah on this point.

But not just State legislators but federal as well.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

State legislators ought to be required to pay all court costs for every law they vote to pass that's overturned as unconstitutional. Maybe that would slow their fucking roll.

I am with Smartie and pickle berry

[Anacanapuna]

All of this makes the November election so much more important. If the Supreme Court doesn't start leaning left again pretty soon, decades of personal civil rights are going to start disappearing, and this will be the first to go.

[BrickaBracka]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

I'm sure the Governor will sign it--she's rabidly pro-birth.

I am glad to see this phrase in common usage. The attitude is decidedly NOT not pro-life...but pro-birth is more appropriate.

[Paul in Qatar]

Election years make for stupid laws.

[Pere]

Hey. I didn't even know this case was up, but the law I mentioned here,

Originally Posted by Pere

Efforts to restrict abortion rights, in certain states, in recent years have generally consisted of making it difficult for clinics to provide the service (as by "admitting privileges" laws).

has been struck down!