An anti-abortion group lauds legislators for carrying the bill, which will become law Nov. 1.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday easily reversed Gov. Brad Henry's veto of a controversial abortion bill.

Henry late Wednesday vetoed the measure, which will require, among other things, women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion.

Henry said the measure didn't make exceptions for victims of rape and incest.

The Senate voted 37-11 to override the veto. Thirty-two votes were needed in the Senate, which is split: 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans.

Later, the GOP-controlled House overrode the veto 81-15. It takes 68 votes in the House for an override.

"We are deeply appreciative of the strong support of the Senate and the House for this important pro-life legislation," said Tony Lauinger, Oklahomans for Life chairman. "These votes represent an affirmation for the value of each human life and speaks well of our elected officials' commitment to the most vulnerable members of our human family: those waiting to be born."

Senate Bill 1878 will become law Nov. 1 without the governor's signature.

The veto override was the first since 1994, when Gov. David Walters was in office, according to Senate staff.

Henry said in a statement that he knew sustaining the veto would be an uphill battle, but he believed it was "important to fight to protect rape and incest victims from additional distress."

The measure requires women who seek an abortion to have an ultrasound within one hour of the procedure. Medical personnel must then provide an explanation of the ultrasound. They also must display the ultrasound so the woman can view it, although she may avert her eyes.

Henry said requiring a rape or incest victim to undergo an ultrasound and hear a detailed description was not morally responsible.

"Pro-life Oklahomans have supported similar protections for rape and incest victims in the past, and I am disappointed that legislators were unwilling to afford similar protections in this measure," Henry said.

The Senate author of the measure, Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, said Henry's veto message that the bill would force a woman to view the ultrasound was inaccurate.

Henry spokesman Paul Sund said Lamb omitted the fact that rape or incest victims will be forced to hear descriptions of the screen.

"In omitting those very key facts about what rape and incest victims are forced to do, Sen. Lamb is playing a disingenuous game of semantics or hasn't read his own bill," Sund said. "Either way, he does a great disservice to those victims."

The legislation requires minors who seek abortions to sign consent forms. It allows health-care providers to refuse to participate in abortions and bans wrongful-life lawsuits, which claim a baby would have been better off aborted.

The measure requires documentation when the chemical abortion pill RU-486 is prescribed and is used to ensure that it is given properly.

Last year, Henry vetoed a bill that prohibited the use of state funds or facilities for abortions, but he chose to let a subsequent version that provided exceptions for rape and incest victims become law without his signature.

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com

Vote details

The state Senate voted 37-11 Thursday to override Gov. Brad Henry's veto of Senate Bill 1878, which deals with abortions.

Democrats voting for the measure (13): Randy Bass, Sean Burrage, Kenneth Corn, Mary Easley, Earl Garrison, Jay Paul Gumm, Tom Ivester, Charlie Laster, Susan Paddack, Nancy Riley, John Sparks, Joe Sweeden and Charles Wyrick.

Republicans voting for the measure (24): Cliff Aldridge, Patrick Anderson, Don Barrington, Brian Bingman, Cliff Branan, Randy Brogdon, Bill Brown, Harry Coates, Glenn Coffee, Brian Crain, John Ford, Mike Johnson, Clark Jolley, Ron Justice, Todd Lamb, Owen Laughlin, Mike Mazzei, David Myers, Jonathan Nichols, Jim Reynolds, Mike Schulz, Anthony Sykes, Kathleen Wilcoxson and James Williamson.

Democrats voting against the measure (11): Tom Adelson, Roger Ballenger, Johnnie Crutchfield, Judy Eason McIntyre, Constance Johnson, Debbe Leftwich, Richard Lerblance, Mike Morgan, Jeff Rabon, Andrew Rice and Jim Wilson.

Republicans voting against the measure: None.

The House of Representatives voted 81-15 Thursday to override Henry's veto.

Democrats voting for the measure (24): John Auffet, David Braddock, Neil Brannon, Mike Brown, John Carey, Joe Dorman, Jerry Ellis, Rebecca Hamilton, Terry Harrison, Wes Hilliard, Terry Hyman, Scott Inman, Lucky Lamons, Ray McCarter, Ryan McMullen, Danny Mor gan, Richard Morrissette, Anastasia Pittman, Eric Proctor, R.C. Pruett, Brian Renegar, Ben Sherrer, Jabar Shumate and Purcy Walker.

Republicans voting for the measure (57): Dennis Adkins, Don Armes, Gary Banz, Lisa Billy, Chris Benge, Gus Blackwell, Lance Cargill, Ann Coody, Marian Cooksey, David Dank, Lee Denney, David Derby, Dale DeWitt, Rex Duncan, John Enns, George Faught, Jeff Hickman, Terry Ingmire, Mike Jackson, Shane Jett, Dennis Johnson, Rob Johnson, Tad Jones, Fred Jordan, Charlie Joyner, Sally Kern, Charles Key, Guy Liebmann, Ken Luttrell, Scott Martin, Steve Martin, Mark McCullough, Randy McDaniel, Skye McNiel, Ken Miller, Jason Murphey, Ron Peters, Pam Peterson, Ron Peterson, Greg Piatt, Mike Reynolds, Phil Richardson, Colby Schwartz, Earl Sears, T.W. Shannon, Kris Steele, Dan Sullivan, Randy Terrill, Mike Thompson, Todd Thomsen, Sue Tibbs, John Trebilcock, Weldon Watson, Paul Wesselhoft, Susan Winchester, Trebor Worthen and John Wright.

Democrats voting against the measure (14): Scott BigHorse, Wallace Collins, James Covey, Darrell Gilbert, Larry Glenn, Chuck Hoskin, Ryan Kiesel, Al Lindley, Al McAffery, Jeannie McDaniel, Bill Nations, Wade Rousselot, Glen Smithson and Dale Turner.

Republicans voting against the measure (1): Doug Cox.

Excused (all Democrats) (5): Ed Cannady, Jerry McPeak, Paul Roan, Mike Shelton and Jerry Shoemake.