The Alabama senate has passed a bill which, if the governor signs it into law, will ban abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest. Abortions would become a felony offense, and doctors who perform an abortion face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The bill still needs to be signed by governor Kay Ivey, who is a Republican.
Under the cynically-titled Human Life Protection Act, "The only exception in the legislation is in cases where the life of the pregnant woman is at risk," report Nina Golgowski and Melissa Jeltsen at Huffington Post:
The bill passed on Tuesday, 25 to 6.
Before the vote, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected an amendment that would have allowed abortions for pregnancies caused by rape and incest.
The Alabama House passed the same bill late last month. If Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signs it into law ― she has not publicly made up her mind ― it would become effective within six months.
"Women in this state didn't deserve this," said Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton in a fiery speech on Tuesday evening. "The state of Alabama ought to be ashamed of itself."
PHOTO of Alabama State House, Montgomery, Alabama, by Jay Williams, CCBY20
… breaking: alabama's state senate just passed a near total abortion ban in a direct challenge to roe v. wade. the bill now goes to gov. kay ivey, a republican, who has not indicated whether she will sign it.https://t.co/NF40L6a6dk pic.twitter.com/e8vHPmMjOI
— fake nick ramsey (@nick_ramsey) May 15, 2019
BREAKING: Alabama Senate passes a bill to ban nearly all abortions. The only exception is if a mother's life is in jeopardy. The vote was 25-6. It now goes to Governor Kay Ivey for signature. #Alpolitics
— Lauren Walsh (@LaurenWalshTV) May 15, 2019
Following Alabama abortion vote, @EquityForward says it's filed an immediate public records request to understand how law was crafted and who influenced it. https://t.co/IlZHwLGiCC pic.twitter.com/NPTbjllNOu
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) May 15, 2019
BREAKING: Alabama Senate votes to ban nearly all abortions; Gov. Kay Ivey expected to sign the bill, setting stage for a legal fight that appears headed to the Supreme Court. Justice Kavanaugh will be key. https://t.co/7sYyhZVszW
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) May 15, 2019
Cecile Richards on the Alabama Senate vote: "This is a terrible day for women and for families in this country … This bill should not be signed into law … This is sending a chill across this country, and women are noticing." @TheLastWord
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 15, 2019
My college ex and I were having a debate about abortion access, and he gave me the whole, "what if that fetus is the next Einstein!" I asked him, "What if the woman is the next Einstein?" He was stunned. He, a self-professed progressive, had never had that thought before. https://t.co/hoSx3c7oLz
— JF Koerner (@pearls_andspurs) May 14, 2019
