Tulsa World Editorial by Janet Pearson

Check out this editorial from Janet Pearson at the Tulsa World. I think Janet is on to something...

Article from RH Reality Check

Dr. Dana Stone, champion for reproductive rights in Oklahoma, was interviewed on the website RH Reality Check recently regarding SB 1878.

Bittersweet is the word for the day

Yesterday the House of Representatives passed SB 2001 - but not before the onerous abortion reporting language was gutted and replaced by an amendment that provided a medical health exception for women regarding the new ultrasound law, from legislation that was passed earlier this month. This was a shocking development indeed.

So as confused as we are right now, this is a bittersweet moment.

Since the session is far from being over, we cannot know what other anti-choice language might find its way into a bill. We will keep you up to date on any legislation that might appear and on actions that need to be taken.

SB 2001 - Statistical Reporting of Abortion Act

SB 2001 was recently gutted and filled with language from another bill to create the Statistical Reporting of Abortion Act. This bill would require abortion providers to ask women the following questions:

1. The date the abortion is performed;
2. The age, marital status, and race of the mother;
3. The number of years of education of the mother;
4. The state of residence, county of residence, and ZIP code
of the mother;
5. The total number of previous pregnancies of the mother,
and of those, how many resulted in live births and how many resulted
in an abortion, and of those resulting in abortion, how many were
spontaneous, and how many were induced;
6. The approximate gestational age, in weeks as measured from
the last menstrual period of the mother, of the unborn child subject
to abortion;
7. The method of abortion used;
8. Whether the abortion resulted in an infant being born
alive and, if so, whether life-sustaining measures were taken, and
how long the infant survived;
9. Whether anesthesia was administered to the mother and, if
so, what type;
10. Whether anesthesia was administered to the unborn child
and, if so, what type and how it was administered;
11. The method of fetal tissue disposal;
12. The reason(s) for the abortion; (none of your business)
13. The complication(s) of the abortion;
14. The method of payment;
15. The type of medical health coverage;

Misogyny is alive and well in Oklahoma. This information with the exception of the mothers name, will be posted on a state funded website, at the cost of $240,000, for anyone to view at any time.

In the Fiscal Impact Report by the House Fiscal Director, "Long Term Considerations: Required data elements for these reports could allow identification of individuals in less densly populated areas of the state."

STOP THE ISANITY OKLAHOMA! Enough is enough, please call your represenative and ask them to vote no on SB 2001!

Dr. Stone's Comments on SB 1878

Dr. Dana Stone, champion for reproductive rights in Oklahoma, is featured on the Huffington Post website regarding SB 1878. Please take a look today! Supportive comments are welcome!

Now What?

Well Pro-Choice Oklahoma, we've taken one on the chin again. The anti's have figured out that, given time, we can organize and be as strong as them. That's why within a matter of 13 hours, the veto was already back in the senate and house for an override attempt. This cruel bill is going to become law November 2008.

With six weeks left of the 2007-2008 legislative session, we can't afford to pass anymore anti-choice, anti-woman bills. My grandfather always told me "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". I have two daughters and yes, I'm teaching them how to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy; I'm teaching them that their vote is extremely important; and I'm teaching them how to fight untill the bitter end for their rights as women.

Please talk to others. Educate and advocate the challenges we face in Oklahoma regarding reproductive health. And for pete's sake keep up the good fight!

SENATE AND HOUSE OVERRIDE VETO

In what seemed a matter of hours (13 to be exact) the Senate and House voted to override Governor Henry's veto of SB 1878.

Please thank the following senators and representatives for voting to sustain the veto and standing up for reproductive rights in Oklahoma:

Representatives:
Scott BigHorse – 405-557-5322
Wallace Collins – 405-557-5386
James Covey – 405-557-7325
Doug Cox – 405-557-7415
Darrell Gilbert – 405-557-7391
Larry Glenn – 405-557-7399
Chuck Hoskin – 405-557-7319
Ryan Kiesel – 405-557-7372
Al Lindley – 405-557-7351
Al McAffrey – 405-557-5396
Jeannie McDaniel – 405-557-7334
Bill Nations – 405-557-7323
Wade Rousselot – 405-557-7388
Glen Bud Smithson – 405-557-7315
Dale Turner – 405-557-7306

Scott.bighorse@okhouse.gov; Wallace.collins@okhouse.gov; jamescovey@okhouse.gov; dougcox@okhouse.gov; Darrellgilbert@okhouse.gov; larryglenn@okhouse.gov; chuck.hoskin@okhouse.gov; kiesel@okhouse.gov; allindley@okhouse.gov; al.mcaffrey@okhouse.gov; jeanniemcdaniel@okhouse.gov; billnations@okhouse.gov; waderousselot@okhouse.gov; glensmithson@okhouse.gov; daleturner@okhouse.gov

Senators:
Tom Adelson - 405-521-5551
Roger Ballenger – 405-521-5588
Johnnie Crutchfield – 405-521-5607
Judy Eason McIntyre – 405-521-5598
Connie Johnson – 405-521-5531
Debbe Leftwich – 405-521-5557
Richard Lerblance – 405-521-5604
Mike Morgan – 405-521-5565
Jeff Rabon – 405-521-5614
Andrew Rice – 405-521-5610
Jim Wilson – 405-521-5574

adelson@oksenate.gov; ballenger@oksenate.gov; bigger@oksenate.gov; easonmcintyre@oksenate.gov; johnsonc@oksenate.gov; bell@oksenate.gov; bard@oksenate.gov; Holland@oksenate.gov; rabon@oksenate.gov; rice@oksenate.gov; wilson@oksenate.gov;

Be sure to thank Governor Henry for his courageous move to veto SB 1878!

GOVERNOR HENRY HAS VETOED SB 1878

From the Tulsa World...
"In announcing the veto, Henry said in a written statement Wednesday that "while I support reasonable restrictions on abortion, this legislation does not provide an essential exemption for victims of rape and incest. By forcing the victims of such horrific acts to undergo and view ultrasounds after they have made such a difficult and heartbreaking decision, the state victimizes the victim for a second time.

'It would be unconscionable to subject victims of rape and incest to such treatment. Because of this critical flaw, I cannot in good conscience sign this legislation.'"

WE MUST STAY VIGILANT! TO SUSTAIN THE VETO, WE NEED 17 VOTES...MORE ACTION TOMORROW!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO MADE CALLS AND EMAILS! THANK YOU!

They don't think you care...

A group of physicians, activists and grasstops spent the day at the state capitol trying to secure the seven votes needed to sustain a possible veto from Governor Henry. There were more "maybe" answers than anything. Tomorrow the Governor will veto or sign SB 1878. This is our last effort to get individuals to call, fax or email the Governor and the following list of senators.

Please contact the following Senators and ask if they would support a veto on SB 1878:

Sen. Randy Bass (D) - 405-521-5567
Sen. Sean Burrage (D) - 405-521-5555
Sen. Charlie Laster (D) - 405-521-5539
Sen. Debbe Leftwich (D) - 405-521-5557
Sen. Susan Paddack (D) - 405-521-5541
Sen. Nancy Riley (D) - 405-521-5600
Sen. John Sparks (D) - 405-521-5553
Sen. Joe Sweeden (D) - 405-521-5581
Sen. Charles Wyrick (D) - 405-521-5561

Their email addresses are:

bass@oksenate.gov; burrage@oksenate.gov; laster@oksenate.gov; holland@oksenate.gov; paddack@oksenate.gov; rileyn@oksenate.gov; sparks@oksenate.gov; sweeden@oksenate.gov; wyrick@oksenate.gov;

There has never been a time your action has been needed more! I know that pro-choice Oklahoman’s have strong voices – use yours now to contact the Governor’s office and urge Governor Henry to veto SB 1878. You can do so by phone, fax, or email.

Call the Governor’s office at (405) 521-2342 and let them know you would like to see Governor Henry veto SB 1878.

Fax a letter to the Governor’s office at (405) 521-3353 that urges him to veto SB 1878.

Send a message to Governor Henry through his website by clicking here!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

Getting the word out...

A special thanks to Ann at www.feministing.com for blogging about our fight against SB 1878. Also, check out the Tulsa World opinion by Associate Editor Janet Pearson. We appreciate your help!

Sustaining a VETO

Now that SB 1878 has landed on the Governor's desk, we have some work to do gaining votes to sustain a veto. This gives us until Thursday to gain seven votes in addition to the ten who voted no earlier this week. I'll list the Senators first and group their email address together at the bottom.

Please contact the following Senators and ask if they would support a veto on SB 1878:

Sen. Randy Bass (D) - 405-521-5567
Sen. Sean Burrage (D) - 405-521-5555
Sen. Charlie Laster (D) - 405-521-5539
Sen. Debbe Leftwich (D) - 405-521-5557
Sen. Susan Paddack (D) - 405-521-5541
Sen. Nancy Riley (D) - 405-521-5600
Sen. John Sparks (D) - 405-521-5553
Sen. Joe Sweeden (D) - 405-521-5581
Sen. Charles Wyrick (D) - 405-521-5561

Their email addresses are:
bass@oksenate.gov; burrage@oksenate.gov; laster@oksenate.gov; holland@oksenate.gov; paddack@oksenate.gov; rileyn@oksenate.gov; sparks@oksenate.gov; sweeden@oksenate.gov; wyrick@oksenate.gov;

Senators which voted no against SB 1878 could use an encouraging email to help sustain the veto:
adelson@oksenate.gov; ballenger@oksenate.gov; bigger@oksenate.gov; easonmcintyre@oksenate.gov; johnsonc@oksenate.gov; bell@oksenate.gov; bard@oksenate.gov; rabon@oksenate.gov; rice@oksenate.gov; wilson@oksenate.gov;

SB 1878 passes the Senate

SB 1878 passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 10. This means that SB 1878, an onerous anti-choice bill, will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law or vetoed.

There has never been a time your action has been needed more! I know that pro-choice Oklahoman’s have strong voices – use yours now to contact the Governor’s office and urge Governor Henry to veto SB 1878. You can do so by phone, fax, or email.

Call the Governor’s office at (405) 521-2342 and let them know you would like to see Governor Henry veto SB 1878.

Fax a letter to the Governor’s office at (405) 521-3353 that urges him to veto SB 1878.

Send a message to Governor Henry through his website by clicking here!

Or even better, come out to the capitol tomorrow, Thursday, April 10th to show your support of Oklahoma women and your opposition to SB 1878 by attending the 2008 Women’s Health Day at the Capitol from 8:30-11:00a.m. on the 2nd floor rotunda.

You can access the text of the bill by using our website at www.ppcok.org.

SB 1878 on the MOVE...

SB 1878 was spotted on the Senate legislative agenda for today. This bill is moving sooner than we thought and thankfully was not heard. If you haven't seen the bill language, please go to the www.ppcok.org website to read this onerous legislation.

Pro-choice Oklahomans need to be aware if this passes in the Senate, our goal is to make as many calls as possible to the Governor to veto the bill.

Please call your Senator as soon as possible and ask them to vote NO on SB 1878.

This is B A D, Part III...

The so-called “Freedom of Conscience” provisions of SB 1878 shatters the boundary between the conscience of the healthcare provider and the conscience of the patient.

Medical professionals may have deeply held beliefs, but so do their patients. Legislators should not encourage those who practice medicine to deny women access to the services they have taken an oath to provide. Passing judgment and imposing their own values on their patients is not sound medicine

Whose rights are at stake? Women have a right to access healthcare. Denying a woman access to medical services is an unacceptable imposition on her rights and an act of outright moral oppression.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATOR TODAY AND ASK HIM/HER TO VOTE NO ON SB 1878!

This is B A D, Part II...

Under the so-called “wrongful life” provisions of SB 1878, a medical professional who intentionally fails to perform available tests, even when requested, or who intentionally fails to accurately report to the parents of a fetus the results of a such a test, would be totally immune from legal consequences.

Thousands of Oklahomans avail themselves of scientific tests to determine prior to birth if they will deliver a healthy baby. A medical professional, or even a laboratory employee, with impunity, could make the choice to force an innocent family into a life of heartache and financial ruin by intentionally causing the birth of a child with profound, even terminal birth defects. That choice should belong to the family.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATOR AND ASK HIM/HER TO VOTE NO ON SB 1878!

This is B A D...

In SB 1878, section 12 (page 16), line 16 (B): "In order for the woman to make an informed decision, at least one (1) hour prior to a woman having any part of an abortion...the physician shall...Perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, using either a vaginal transducer or abdominal transducer, whichever would display the embryo or fetus more clearly;"

Oklahoma is the only state with proposed legislation which specifies the type of ultrasound required. So our anti-choice legislators hate women so bad they are forcing women to submit to a vaginal ultrasound even if they say NO...OR EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED ONE!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATOR AND ASK HIM/HER TO VOTE NO ON SB 1878!

SB 1878 Headed Back to the Senate

Yes, SB 1878 passed out of the House with little conflict. This bill has become so extreme, it defies explanation with out cuss words. It puts women in serious peril. Please take the time to go to the legislative website, click on Status of Measures and on the left side of the screen click on Basic Search Form. From here you type in SB 1878 and check the Senator author on the right side (LAMB) and click on Retrieve. The version you should read is the House Amendment. You'll see this bill went from 3 pages to 22 pages and is full of terrifying language.