Abortion – Page 507 – Family Council

Video of Rep. Tyler Adjourning Health Committee Without Roll Call Vote

Mar 25, 2011JerryAbortion, LegislatureArkansas Legislature, Video

Below is video of Rep. Linda Tyler (D-Conway) adjourning the House Public Health Committee immediately after a voice vote on HB1979, ignoring the request for a roll call vote.

HB1979 was a pro-life bill that would have prohibited abortion at state-owned or operated facilities like UAMS, except to save the life of the mother.

House Rules say that when I vote is taken, if two members of the committee raise their hands asking for a roll call vote, where committee member’s names are called and votes recorded individually, the chair of the committee should order a roll call vote be taken.

Here’s the problem: At least two representatives clearly asked for a roll call in that meeting. Rep. Mayberry (whose hand you see go up in the video) and Rep. Lea raised their hands and asked for a roll call. Rep. Tyler, however, declared she didn’t see two hands, and immediately adjourned the committee.

I personally think this is a case of the Chair seeing what the Chair wants to see (like when a Committee Chair declares a quorum is present for a meeting when less than half the committee is actually there). Voters need to let Rep. Tyler know that they disapprove of heavy-handed conduct like this in committee meetings.

Call Your State Senator About Two Pro-Life Bills

Mar 23, 2011JerryAbortion, LegislatureArkansas Legislature

Call your senator about two good pro-life bills: (501) 682-2902.

There are two good pro-life bills on their way to the Arkansas Senate. SB845 and SB840 both passed the Senate Public Health Committee today.

We’ve been saying for a while now that folks need to contact their representatives and the representatives on the House Health Committee. However, your senator needs to hear from you too.

(more…)

House Public Health Votes Against Good Pro-Life Legislation

Mar 18, 2011JerryAbortion, Legislation, LegislatureArkansas Legislature

Yesterday, the Arkansas House Public Health Committee voted down a bill that would have prohibited abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy.

HB1887, also known as the “fetal pain” bill strongly supported by Arkansas Right to Life, by Rep. Mayberry would have prevented unborn children from being aborted after the 20th week of pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother or prevent irreparable physical harm.

By the 20th week, an unborn child can feel pain—and abortion is believed by many experts to be an excruciatingly painful process for the child. This bill would have prevented the unnecessary and cruel killing of these unborn children, but it was stopped by the House Public Health Committee.

The bill received 9 votes. If it had received just 2 more, it would have passed. Below is a breakdown of the vote. Please call those committee members who did not vote or voted against the bill, and ask them to support the remaining pro-life bills pending before their committee. And don’t forget you can talk to these committee members in person if you join us at the Capitol on Tuesday morning for an emergency Pro-Life Day at the Capitol.