District of Columbia, Oklahoma | August 16, 2021
Senate passes nonbinding budget amendment restoring Hyde and conscience protections… but the fight isn’t over
District of Columbia, Oklahoma | August 16, 2021
A Senate budget amendment to preserve the Hyde Amendment and also protect conscience rights for health care providers narrowly passed the Senate by a margin of 50 to 49 late Wednesday.
The amendment to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget resolution proposed by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) includes the Hyde Amendment’s prohibition on federal funding for abortion on demand. Senator Lankford’s amendment also includes conscience protections for health care providers and insurance companies who refuse to commit or fund abortions, protected since 2004 under the Weldon Amendment. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) broke with his party to act as the decisive vote in favor of Lankford’s amendment.
“We thank the pro-life champions in the Senate for their tireless work to protect unborn children and their mothers,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, according to a press release…. (Excerpts from LIVE ACTION)
Oklahoma | August 12, 2021
Lankford Protects Lives of the Unborn, Successfully Prevents Taxpayers from Being Forced to Fund Abortions
Oklahoma | August 12, 2021
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) this evening offered an amendment, which he introduced earlier today, to the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion Fiscal Year 2022 budget to prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars for funding of abortions and abortion-related discrimination. The amendment ensures that the budget will comply with the long-standing Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal dollars to pay for abortion, and the Weldon amendment, which protects health care providers who refuse to participate in abortion from discrimination. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 50-49.
A 2020 Marist poll found that 60 percent of Americans, including 37 percent of people who identify as pro-choice, oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion. Earlier this year, Lankford introduced a similar amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Reconciliation bill to ensure health-related funding was compliant with the Hyde amendment. The amendment failed and Lankford voted against the reconciliation bill in part because it would fund abortion for the first time since 1976.
Lankford introduced the Conscience Protection Act of 2021 to protect health care providers, including health insurance plans from government discrimination if they decline to participate in abortions. Lankford introduced the bill ahead of a hearing to consider President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Lankford pressed Xavier Becerra on how he plans to protect the conscience rights of Americans and ensure faith-based entities receive fair treatment.
Lankford introduced the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which would make the Hyde amendment permanent. Earlier this year, Lankford reintroduced the bicameral Women’s Public Health and Safety Act, which gives states the authority to exclude abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds….
(Excerpts from U.S. Senator James Lankford)
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas | July 29, 2021
A dozen GOP governors urge Supreme Court to let states regulate abortion
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas | July 29, 2021
A dozen Republican governors on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to eliminate federal protections for abortion and instead allow states to regulate abortion.
Led by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, the group argued in a legal filing that the court’s landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to abortion, and subsequent rulings unlawfully encroach on states’ rights.
“The judicial constitutionalization of abortion represents an unwarranted intrusion into the sovereign sphere of the States,” they wrote. “Returning to the States the plenary authority to regulate abortion without federal interference would restore the proper (i.e., constitutional) relationship between the States and the Federal Government.”
The amicus brief endorsed Mississippi’s effort to have Roe v. Wade overruled next term, and was signed by the Republican governors of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas….(Excerpts from The Hill)
Oklahoma | May 11, 2021
Oklahoma Asks Supreme Court to Take Up Abortion Ban Appeal
Oklahoma | May 11, 2021
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter implored the Supreme Court to hear a Mississippi case that could allow states to ban abortions after 15 weeks of gestation.
Hunter’s remarks came after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed a so-called trigger bill April 27 that would automatically outlaw abortion in the state if the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, which, in 1973, made abortion lawful throughout the United States.
Hunter, also a Republican, said his office has an interest in getting involved when “wayward” courts get it wrong on vitally important policy issues, The Oklahoman reported May 9.
“My role is to defend laws enacted by the people of Oklahoma and their representatives,” he said…
(Excerpts from Epoch Times)
Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma | April 30, 2021
Republican Governors Are Signing Pro-Life Laws All Across the Country
Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma | April 30, 2021
Republican governors across the U.S. are ramping up pro-life legislation as President Joe Biden continues to expand abortion access.
The newest pro-life laws have been signed this week in Arizona, Oklahoma, Montana, and Idaho.
On Tuesday, Republican Arizona Gov. Greg Ducey signed SB 1457 into law, legislation banning abortions based on a diagnosis of genetic abnormality like Down Syndrome.
“Every life holds immeasurable value — regardless of genetic makeup,” Ducey tweeted. “Today I signed legislation to prioritize life in our preborn children and protect those with genetic abnormalities. Arizona remains among the top pro-life states in the nation, and my sincere thanks goes to Senator Nancy Barto for her leadership and work on this life-saving issue and to those who supported this bill.”..
(Excerpts from The Virginia Star)
Oklahoma | April 29, 2021
Oklahoma governor signs bill to ban abortion if SCOTUS rules
Oklahoma | April 29, 2021
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed legislation to immediately outlaw abortion in Oklahoma if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 case that legalized abortion.
Stitt signed the so-called “trigger” bill late Tuesday. The law would become effective once the attorney general has determined that the U.S. Supreme Court has overruled the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.
On Wednesday, the governor signed an additional 28 House bills and 28 Senate bills into law and vetoed three others.