Tulsa World: Senate panel to hear gender abortion bill

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Senate panel to hear gender abortion bill
The measure also requires information about the mother, such as age, race and education.

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published: 3/22/2009 3:40 AM
Last Modified: 3/22/2009 4:25 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY A Senate panel this week will consider a bill that would ban abortions based on the sex of the fetus and require providers to provide a host of information about women undergoing abortions.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday is scheduled to hear House Bill 1595 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond.

The measure would ban abortions when the decision is based solely on the sex of the fetus.

"We believe this is occurring in other states," Lamb said. "We didn't want it to occur for convenience, to eliminate human life."

It also requires the abortion provider to provide information such as the mother's level of education, race, age, number of live births and miscarriages, as well as the method, reason for the abortion, payment method and cost.

"We haven't had solid information on why women are choosing to abort their babies," said Lamb, Senate majority floor leader. "Sometimes we get anecdotal information, but requiring this information gives us a much better idea as a society in Oklahoma why women are choosing abortions."

Meanwhile, an abortion bill passed last session requiring women to obtain ultrasounds within an hour of the termination of a pregnancy and listen to a description of the results remains on hold pending a legal challenge.

A lawsuit was filed in October 2008 against the ultrasound bill, which was to take effect Nov. 1, 2008. An Oklahoma County district judge put the law on hold until the

outcome of the case was determined. The law was created by Senate Bill 1878 by Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa, and Lamb.

The suit was filed on behalf of Nova Health Systems, doing business as Reproductive Services in Tulsa.

Lamb said he is frustrated with the lawsuit and believes the law will be upheld.

Janet Crepps is the deputy director of the U.S. Legal Program with the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York City. Her group filed the suit on behalf of Nova Health Systems.

The group is reviewing the new Lamb-Sullivan measure.

"I think the bill is flawed front to back," she said.

She said she doesn't believe women are aborting fetuses based on sex, adding that the measure is unnecessary.

"What is to stop them from coming back next year and saying they will ban abortions if the woman says she has too may children or wants to pursue her education?" Crepps said. "The constitutional right to obtain an abortion before viability does not permit the Legislature to intrude on that decision and pick and choose which reasons are acceptable."

She said the Legislature is piling on regulations and burdens in an effort to end abortions.

While the Legislature may not want to go so far as to ban all abortions outright, "they are trying to get there through the back door," Crepps said.

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

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	Report Comment Tony G, Tulsa (3/22/2009 4:48:59 AM) While I personally do not believe in abortion, I cannot make that call for anyone else. I would like to see funding for abortion eliminated. If a couple decide an abortion is the right solution, let THEM pay for it. This particular bill looks like a way to gather information that could be adversely used in the future.
	Report Comment Intermittently Semi-Serious, Broken Arrow (3/22/2009 5:30:56 AM) Politicians need to spend less time in other people's vaginas.
	Report Comment Bren, Wagoner (3/22/2009 9:11:58 AM) You would think that the abortions subject has been hashed out so many times that the politicians would just let it go. The reasons a woman chooses to have an abortion are her own. For many women this is an extremely painful decision and not one taken lightly. Now how long ago was Roe vs Wade?
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (3/22/2009 9:12:32 AM) This is just more mindless showboating by so-called "conservative" politicians, pandering to their extremist base. What ever happened to proponents of smaller government? I suggest that "none of your business" is a perfectly acceptable answer when the State wants to know why you are having an abortion. None of the other information to be gathered under this bill (mother's level of education, race, age, number of live births and miscarriages, as well as the method, reason for the abortion, payment method and cost) is any of the State's business either.

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