Alabama Abortion Law: Who Voted And Why?

On May 15, 2019, 25 male Alabama state senators voted to pass a bill that banned abortion in the state, with the only exception being a serious threat to the woman's health. The bill, which was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Terri Collins, passed with a vote of 25-6, with all Democrats voting against it. The senators who voted for the bill were all Republican, white men, and included Greg Albritton, Gerald H. Allen, Will Barfoot, Tom Butler, Clyde Chambliss, Donnie Chesteen, Chris Elliott, Sam Givhan, Garlan Gudger, Andrew Jones, Steve Livingston, Del Marsh, Jim McClendon, Tim Melson, Arthur Orr, Randy Price, Greg Reed, Dan Roberts, Clay Scofield, David R. Sessions, Shay Shelnutt, Larry Collins Stutts, James Thomas Jabo Waggoner, Cam Ward, and Jack Williams. The bill was then signed into law by Alabama's female Republican governor, Kay Ivey, making it a felony for doctors to perform abortions in the state.

The Alabama abortion law was passed by 25 male senators, all of whom were Republicans

The Alabama abortion law, which is the most restrictive in the country, was passed by 25 male senators, all of whom were Republicans. The bill, which was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey, criminalizes abortion in nearly all cases, including rape and incest, and makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison for doctors. The vote was largely along party lines, with all Democrats voting against the bill.

The 25 senators who voted for the bill are: Greg Albritton, Gerald H. Allen, Will Barfoot, Tom Butler, Clyde Chambliss, Donnie Chesteen, Chris Elliott, Sam Givhan, Garlan Gudger, Andrew Jones, Steve Livingston, Del Marsh, Jim McClendon, Tim Melson, Arthur Orr, Randy Price, Greg Reed, Dan Roberts, Clay Scofield, David R. Sessions, Shay Shelnutt, Larry Collins Stutts, James Thomas "Jabo" Waggoner, Cam Ward, and Jack Williams. Notably, all of these senators are white men.

This group of exclusively white, male politicians passed a law that will disproportionately affect black and poor women, as they are more likely to seek abortions and less likely to have the resources to obtain one out-of-state. The Alabama Senate has an extremely low proportion of women, at only 11.4%, and there are only four women in the Alabama senate, all of whom are Democrats.

The Alabama abortion law is a stark example of a group of people making decisions about women's bodies and healthcare without their input or representation. It is essential to recognize the impact of this law on the lives of women and the importance of having diverse and inclusive decision-making bodies to ensure that all voices are heard and represented.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey

On May 14, 2019, Alabama passed a highly restrictive abortion ban, making it a felony for doctors to perform abortions in the state. The bill, which passed with a vote of 25-6, was sponsored by 25 Republican state senators, all of whom were white men. The bill was then sent to Governor Kay Ivey, a female governor with anti-choice views, who had not commented on the bill at the time.

Governor Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, signed the bill into law. Surrounded by students, lawmakers, and supporters in the State Capitol Old House Chamber in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 7, 2024, Governor Ivey celebrated the passage of the bill, thanking the lawmakers who helped get it passed. In her comments, she emphasized the importance of providing families with education savings account options and ensuring that every Alabama student receives a quality education.

Governor Ivey's support for and signing of the bill is significant, especially given her position as a female governor. While women, and particularly white women, have supported anti-choice legislation, Governor Ivey's role in signing the bill into law drew attention due to the implications for women's reproductive rights and health care decisions. The bill's passage in Alabama contributes to a broader trend of states seeking to restrict abortion access and challenge the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision.

Governor Ivey has a track record of signing priority bills into law. During her state of the state address, she identified several pieces of legislation that she considered priorities, including House Bill 170, House Bill 192, and Senate Bill 30. True to her word, she signed these bills into law, addressing issues related to COVID-19 relief, economic growth, and protection for businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits.

Governor Ivey has also signed other notable bills, such as Senate Bill 186, which aims to protect the integrity of Alabama elections, and House Bill 182, which strengthens homeowners' rights against illegal squatters. Additionally, she celebrated the Legislature's approval of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences and joined other Southern governors in opposing the United Auto Workers (UAW)'s unionization campaign.

The Alabama Senate voted 25-6 on party lines to pass the bill

The bill was voted for by Republican senators: Greg Albritton of Atmore; Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa; Will Barfoot of Montgomery; Tom Butler of Madison; Chambliss; Donnie Chesteen of Geneva; Chris Elliott of Fairhope; Sam Givhan of Huntsville; Garlan Gudger of Cullman; Andrew Jones of Centre; Steve Livingston of Scottsboro; Del Marsh of Anniston; Jim McClendon of Springville; Tim Melson of Florence; Arthur Orr of Decatur; Randy Price of Opelika; Greg Reed of Jasper; Dan Roberts of Birmingham; Clay Scofield of Guntersville; David Sessions of Mobile; Shay Shelnutt of Trussville; Larry Stutts of Sheffield; Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills; Cam Ward of Alabaster; and Jack Williams of Wilmer.

Voting against the bill were six Democratic senators: Billy Beasley of Clayton; David Burkette of Montgomery; Linda Coleman-Madison of Birmingham; Vivian Figures of Mobile; Singleton; and Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham. Malika Sanders-Fortier, D-Selma, abstained.

The Alabama abortion ban has been criticised for disproportionately affecting black and poor women, who are more likely to seek abortions and less likely to have the resources to obtain an abortion out-of-state. The bill was also criticised for being voted for by a group of exclusively white, male politicians.

The Alabama House passed the bill 74-3

The Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass the abortion bill, with 74 voting in favour and 3 against. This occurred in the context of a broader push to restrict abortion access in the state, with the bill ultimately being signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey.

The bill, known as the Human Life Protection Act, was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Terri Collins in the House. It sought to prohibit all abortions in the state, except in cases where the mother's health was at serious risk. This context is important, as it indicates a broader trend towards restricting abortion access in Alabama, with the bill's passage in the House being a crucial step in this process.

The vote in the Alabama House occurred after the bill had already passed in the state Senate, where it was supported exclusively by Republican men. The lopsided nature of the vote, with 74 representatives in favour and only 3 against, highlights the polarising nature of the issue and the strong support for abortion restrictions among Alabama's elected officials.

The passage of the bill in the Alabama House was a significant step towards enacting these restrictions into law. With the bill's subsequent signing by Governor Ivey, Alabama enacted some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, significantly limiting abortion access for women in the state.

The Alabama abortion law disproportionately affects black and poor women

The Alabama abortion law, also known as the Human Life Protection Act, was passed in May 2019 and is one of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws. The law bans most abortions at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, only allowing abortions if there was a serious health risk to the mother. The law was granted an injunction until June 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing the Act to go into effect.

Disproportionately Affecting Black Women

Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience unintended pregnancies than white women, and more likely to get abortions. In 2017, the abortion rate for black women was 27 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, compared with 18 for Hispanic women and 10 for white women. This higher rate among black women has led to claims by abortion opponents that the procedure amounts to "black genocide". However, the Guttmacher Institute explains that differences in abortion rates by race and ethnicity are probably due to gaps in access to affordable healthcare and contraception, as well as other factors tied to the country's history of racism and discrimination.

Disproportionately Affecting Poor Women

Among US abortion patients, 75% are poor or low-income, including 49% who live below the federal poverty level. Women who seek abortions but are denied because they are too far into their pregnancy are more likely to report that they don't have enough money for food, housing, and transportation. Additionally, research has found that the most common reason women give for wanting an abortion is that they feel they cannot afford to have another child.

The Impact of the Alabama Abortion Law

The Alabama abortion law will make it difficult for women, especially black and poor women, to access safe and legal abortions. The law will likely result in women seeking unsafe alternatives, such as attempting to end pregnancies on their own or travelling to another state where abortion is legal. This will put women at risk of serious health complications or even death.

The Role of Legislators

The Alabama abortion law was passed with votes from 25 state senators, all of whom were Republican white men. This has led to criticism that those making decisions about reproductive rights do not understand the impact of their choices on women, especially those from marginalized communities.

The Way Forward

Organizations like the Yellowhammer Fund, People Organizing for Women's Empowerment and Rights House (P.O.W.E.R. House), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama (ACLU) are working to financially assist women seeking abortions and protect reproductive rights in the state. However, the future of abortion access in Alabama remains uncertain, with the state's political leadership and population largely holding anti-abortion views.

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