Oklahoma Republicans Defund Statutory-Rape Cover-Ups, Pass Other Pro-Life Measures

A professor at the University of Central Oklahoma last week bemoaned what she calls "the inhumanity of the 'pro-life' movement." This UCO prof teaches, among other courses, "Medical Ethics." (Can't make this stuff up.)

In sunnier news, Tony Lauinger, state chairman of Oklahomans for Life, sent around an email last week recapping four significant victories in the 2019 legislative session, victories which are in fact reflective of the humanity of the pro-life movement. Mr. Lauinger writes:

A two-million-dollar appropriation for the Choosing Childbirth Program, originally in HB 2592 [authored by House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat], was transferred to the state budget bill, HB 2765, and approved by the Senate this week after passing the House last Friday. The bill will provide much-needed funds to pro-life pregnancy resource centers which help vulnerable women during their pregnancies and after their babies are born.

The Choosing Childbirth Program will provide funds for services such as ultrasounds, medical exams, counseling, parenting classes, maternity care, etc., without interfering in any privately-funded, faith-based activities of the pregnancy centers. These crisis pregnancy centers are on the front lines of the pro-life movement, providing crucial help to expectant mothers and saving their babies from abortion.

Mr. Lauinger, whom I have dubbed the William Wilberforce of the Oklahoma pro-life movement, also highlighted SB 614, authored by Sen. Julie Daniels and Rep. Mark Lepak:

SB 614 provides that an abortion patient be given information about the possibility of reversing the intended effects of a medication (chemical) abortion. Medical science has developed a method for reversing the effects of a medication abortion and saving an unborn child's life when only the first drug in the two-step process of a medication abortion has been ingested by the mother. Hundreds of babies lives have been saved by this method when a mother has changed her mind about continuing the abortion procedure. 

Another significant victory came in the form of SB 108 by Sen. Gary Stanislawski and Rep. Sean Roberts:

SB 108 protects against assisted suicide by ensuring accuracy in reporting the cause of death on death certificates. Promoters of legalizing assisted suicide, seeking to conceal the growing harm and pressure that such utilitarian laws inflict on the vulnerable, the elderly, the depressed, and persons with disabilities, are encouraging those participating in assisted suicide to cover up what is actually occurring by reporting an underlying illness, instead of suicide, to hide the true cause of death in such cases. Causing the sick and vulnerable to feel that their lives are not worthy, or that they are a burden, sends the not-so-subtle message that—as former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm once infamously put it—they have a "duty to die and get out of the way." A prerequisite for preventing the lethal practice of assisted suicide from gaining a foothold in Oklahoma is honest reporting of the actual cause of death so the perpetrators cannot hide what they have done.

Lastly, there is HB 2591, the "Defunding Statutory Rape Cover-up Act," authored by Rep. Echols and Sen. Mark Allen:

HB 2591 prohibits the state from granting Medicaid funding to any health-care provider that has failed to report statutory rape as required by mandatory child-abuse reporting laws. Child molesters who impregnate their minor victims sometimes use abortion as a means of covering up the evidence of their crimes. Abortionists frequently perform abortions on minor girls, without parents' knowledge, when a statutory rapist brings the girl to an abortion facility and pays for the abortion. 

The measure cleared the House 79-20. State representatives voting against the Defunding Statutory Rape Cover-up Act were: Rep. Kelly Albright (D-Midwest City); Rep. Merleyn Bell (D-Norman); Rep. Forrest Bennett (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Meloyde Blancett (D-Tulsa); Rep. Chelsey Branham (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Denise Brewer (D-Tulsa); Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Jason Dunnington (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa); Rep. Jason Lowe (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Monroe Nichols (D-Tulsa); Rep. Ajay Pittman (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa); Rep. Trish Ranson (D-Stillwater); Rep. Jacob Rosencrants (D-Norman); Rep. Shane Stone (D-Oklahoma City); Rep. Emily Virgin (D-Norman); Rep. John Waldron (D-Tulsa); and Rep. Collin Walke (D-Oklahoma City).

The measure cleared the Senate 35-8. State senators voting against the Defunding Statutory Rape Cover-up Act were: Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman); Sen. Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City); Sen. Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City); Sen. Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City); Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman (D-Tulsa); Sen. Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City); Sen. Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa); and Sen. George Young (D-Oklahoma City).