Excerpt:
After the Alabama state Senate voted to not participate in the abortion funding that will take place under the Obamacare law, legislators then approved a slate of pro-life bills that would limit abortions.
The measures are the first pro-life pieces of legislation to advance in the state Senate, thanks to the 2010 elections allowing pro-life lawmakers control of the body.
The chamber approved SB 298, by Senator Allen, which makes it unlawful to administer any abortion-inducing drug to a woman without her receiving an exam by a physician and would provide a physician with guidelines to follow in administering any abortion-inducing drugs. The bill targets the webcam or telemed abortion process that is generating controversy in Iowa where Planned Parenthood is denying women an in-person consult with a doctor prior to getting the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug that has killed dozens of women worldwide and injured another 1,100 in the U.S. alone as of 2006 FDA figures.
That legislation passed 26-6.
The Senate passed SB 301, by Senator Williams, to defines the term “persons” as used in the Code of Alabama 1975, as including all humans from the moment of fertilization and implantation in the womb. The bill can’t ban abortions, but allows the state to declare that human life begins at that point. The Senate voted 23-7 for that measure.
The chamber also passed SB 308, by Senator Scofield, that requires a physician to perform an ultrasound, provide verbal explanation of the ultrasound, and display the images to pregnant women before performing an abortion. The measure is similar to measures approved in other states that allow women to see the ultrasound of their baby, something abortion centers don’t typically show despite doing them to determine the age of the unborn child before the abortion.
The Senate voted 26-3 for the ultrasound legislation.
Lt. Governor Kay Ivey applauded the votes, saying, “History is being made in the Alabama Legislature. I commend Senator Greg Reed for all of his hard work in making the passage of this bill a reality. The Alabama Legislature is working together to help protect and save the lives of our future generations.”
Sen. Greg Reed added: “This past November’s election had consequences, and in this case, those positive consequences allowed us to pass the first pro-life bill in years.”
The lopsided votes on the five bills were a departure from the days when Democrats controlled the state Senate and pro-life bills died in committee.
Elections have consequences.
WINTERY KNIGHT 