Peterson Praises Senate Passage of Pro-Life Bill

State Rep. Pam Peterson praised members of the Oklahoma Senate for passing major pro-life legislation today and urged Gov. Brad Henry to sign the bill into law.

"I appreciate the Senate's swift action and hope Governor Henry will quickly sign the bill into law," said Peterson, R-Tulsa. "The legislation enacts several common-sense reforms respecting the sanctity of life that have been embraced by members of both political parties."

Senate Bill 1878 by state Sen. Todd Lamb (R-Edmond) and Peterson, contains several pro-life initiatives. The legislation received broad, veto-proof bipartisan support in both chambers.

The bill passed the Senate today with a vote of 38-10 and previously passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives 80-12.

Senate Bill 1878 was amended in the House to include several pro-life measures filed by lawmakers, and now

* creates the Freedom of Conscience Act which protects the rights of healthcare providers to refuse to take part in the destruction of human life (SB 1878-Lamb and Peterson);

* ensures the chemical abortion pill, RU 486, is used in accordance with FDA guidelines (House Bill 2181-state Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow);

* ensures the mother's consent to abort is truly voluntary, and protects against coerced abortions (House Bill 3059-state Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City);

* provides a woman with an ultrasound of her unborn child which she can view prior to undergoing the abortion (House Bill 3144-state Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Purcell); and

* cultivates respect for disabled children by banning the wrongful-life lawsuits that claim a baby would have been better off aborted (House Bill 2814-state Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa).

Last year, Henry vetoed pro-life legislation that would have prevented taxpayer funds from being used for elective abortions. When the measure was revived and approved by veto-proof margins, the governor let the bill become law without his signature.

Peterson noted that four women serving in the Legislature authored provisions of Senate Bill 1878.

"This legislation is pro-woman, pro-child and pro-life," Peterson said. "The more information a woman can have before making this life-altering decision, the better. I hope Governor Henry will do the right thing this year and sign this legislation into law."