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!