Aborting A Bad Bill

POSTED BY ARNOLD HAMILTON

Common sense, decency and fairness, thy name is Sen. Charlie Laster.

Laster, a Shawnee Democrat, provided the key vote Wednesday to sustain Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of a draconian anti-abortion measure that would have shackled doctors at publicly-funded hospitals and all-but-denied poor women access to the procedure – even in cases of rape and incest.

Proponents needed 32 votes in the 48-member Senate to override the governor’s veto. They managed only 31. Laster’s change of heart made the difference.

“I initially voted in favor of Senate Bill 714,” Laster said in written statement, released after the vote. “However, in the days since that vote, I have visited with Gov. Henry and multiple medical professionals.

“I am pro-life and I have consistently voted for pro-life legislation. This bill, however, holds poorer Oklahomans to a different standard than everyone else and I can’t support that. It does not allow an exception in the case of rape or incest and medical experts in Oklahoma believe this bill will undermine the relationship between doctors and their patients. The bill also interferes with private health insurance coverage.

“Gov. Henry was urged to veto the measure by the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Oklahoma Nurses Association.

“For these reasons, I decided to stand with the medical community and vote to uphold Gov. Henry’s veto.”

The pro-life governor thanked senators who backed his veto, but added, in a prepared statement, that “I respect the position of those who did not. This is a very difficult and very emotional issue, and I know each senator did what he or she believes is best for the state of Oklahoma.

“No one makes decisions of this nature lightly, but given the flaws in the legislation, I believe there was really no other course of action. I support reasonable restrictions on abortion and have signed such restrictions into law, but this legislation triggered too many unintended consequences with respect to medical care, the health of the mother and the treatment of rape and incest victims.

“I know some will be tempted to cast this vote in a political light or engage in personal attacks, but I would urge them to respect the decision made by each individual legislator. There are good people on both sides of SB 714, and it is my hope that they can put this issue behind them and work together to address the needs of Oklahoma.”

The bill’s author, Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, expressed his disappointment but vowed to continue his fight to override the veto. In a prepared statement, he also fired not-so-veiled political threats at both Laster and former Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Nancy Riley of Sand Springs.

“Sen. Laster’s flip-flop on this life-and-death issue is surprising and disappointing. Sen. Laster will likely be hearing from many pro-life Oklahomans in the coming days. There will be a lot of prayers that he will have a change of heart on the next override vote.”

On Riley, he said: “In the past, Sen. Riley consistently voted pro-life as a Republican. She never told pro-life supporters that rape and incest exceptions were important to her. As a Democrat, she even voted for SB 714 in committee before opposing the bill on the floor. Sen. Riley’s waffling on the issue of life is extremely disappointing.”

Lawmakers in both houses must vote to override a gubernatorial veto. Since this measure is a Senate Bill, the override effort must begin in the Senate. Williamson said he will pursue a successful override “as many times as necessary” until next year’s legislative session ends.

For some Republicans, it is the perfect scenario. Playing their most naïve supporters like a fiddle, they can demand occasional override votes, knowing they won’t be successful – but will whip the fundies into a lather. The result: More campaign contributions. More foot soldiers in the political trenches.

The truth is, even the most ardent abortion foes usually are willing in a spirit of fairness, common sense and decency to acknowledge there should be exceptions – typically in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger. SB 714 would have wiped out exceptions for rape and incest as it sought to thwart the use of any taxpayer dollars for such procedures at public hospitals.

Who would have been most affected? The poor.

Compassion? Grace? Forgiveness?

Forget it.