For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Angela Allmond, Communications Director
Oklahoma Democratic Party
angela@okdemocrats.org

War on Women’s Health Rights Continues with Unconstitutional Bill Passing

OKLAHOMA CITY—APRIL 6, 2022 – If anyone believes Senate Bill 612, the bill penalizing doctors for performing abortions in Oklahoma, doesn’t affect them, they are incredibly misguided and misinformed. So long as lawmakers try to control anyone’s body using performative legislation that limits access to healthcare, society is in danger of losing all rights. SB612 is a precursor to more legislative interference in women’s healthcare that should remain between individuals, families, and healthcare providers.

“Legislators are pretending to care about protecting women and the unborn with SB612, but they fail to see the bigger picture,” stated Alicia Andrews, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair. “The answer is not penalizing doctors or limiting access to safe and legal procedures. It’s making sure that mothers can afford to raise a child, and it’s about making sure the child will be safe at home from violence. Can the mother afford healthcare during pregnancy and for the child once born? These are just some of the issues women consider when deciding whether or not to carry the pregnancy to term. These are the issues lawmakers should be focused on if they want to reduce abortions.

“This bill doesn’t stop abortions. It simply moves it to another location for women who can afford to travel outside of our state. The majority of Americans believe that abortions should be safe and legal. According to American Progress limiting such access counters what lawmakers think they are protecting. Restricting access to safe and legal abortions increases infant and maternal mortality, versus protecting them.

“We know that these anti-abortion bills introduced around the country and here in Oklahoma aren’t just performative but harmful – an opportunity to boast and puff one’s chest at women’s expense. We know this because the legislature refuses to present bills that truly help Oklahomans, like passing bills to make healthcare affordable, provide a living wage, fund services to help marginalized communities, properly fund and support education, and address food and child care deserts,” continued Andrews.

“Criminalizing abortion creates situations where women become desperate and unsafe abortions and deaths increase. Again, the legislature isn’t thinking about this. They care only about performing in front of their flock. Abortions must remain safe, legal, accessible, and hopefully rare. Let’s start focusing our attention on what we can do to improve Oklahomans’ lives, not harm them,” Andrews concluded.

Additionally, this bill represents yet another way that our legislators are running professionals from our state. First, they came for the teachers, now physicians. Who’s next?

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For more information about the Oklahoma Democratic Party, visit the party website at okdemocrats.org, or call party headquarters at 405-427-3366.