OKLAHOMA CITY — A measure that would make the sale and delivery of drugs used for some abortions illegal passed the Oklahoma Senate Thursday — but not without a morning full of debate.
And while the bill drew the support of most of the Senate’s Republicans and the opposition of all of the Senate Democrats, one member of the Senate — who has regularly campaigned about abolishing abortion — remained silent and did not vote.
House Bill 1168 makes it a felony for anyone to knowingly possess or deliver abortion-inducing drugs — including mifepristone, misoprostol and methotrexate — to someone who intends to use them for an abortion.
The bill passed the Senate on a 37-10 vote. Every Senate Democrat and two Republican senators voted against the measure.
However, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, who has used the idea of outlawing abortion as a major part of his campaign platform, didn’t participate in the debate and did not vote for the bill. Sources told Southwest Ledger that Deevers was in the Senate Lounge during the debate and the voting.
In fact, Deevers was the only senator who didn’t vote.
The measure’s author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, cited a study that said 4,130 abortion pills were trafficked into Oklahoma last year. Millions of pills have been trafficked nationwide, he said.
“House Bill 1168 is the most important legislation we’ve passed all session,” Bullard said. “The abortion pill doesn’t just kill a baby. It doesn’t just decimate a mother through serious physical and mental health problems and never-ending regrets. The abortion pill wipes out generations of unborn lives. I’m proud the Senate took this significant step today to protect innocent babies, and I look forward to the governor signing this bill.” Democrats said the bill invades the private medical care of patients. “The bill creates a political standard of care that puts politics over people,” Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said.
Carri Hicks, the assistant Democratic Leader also from Oklahoma City, said the state should direct resources in other areas if the goal “is truly to support life.”
“We should be investing in prenatal care, postpartum support, and access to health care — not expanding felony penalties on Oklahomans,” Hicks said. “This bill does not make our state safer. It does not make our health care system stronger. And it does not serve the well-being of families.”
While Democrats were open about their opposition, Deevers remained silent.
Deevers has not responded to emails from Southwest Ledger. Those messages were sent to both his Senate office and his campaign. Neither email has been answered.
However, Deevers’ opponent, Curtis Erwin, sharply criticized the senator for failing to stand decisively behind House Bill 1168. The legislation, he said, “would make the trafficking and delivery of abortion-inducing drugs a felony in Oklahoma.”
“House Bill 1168 would impose felony penalties, including fines up to $100,000 and prison time, on those who knowingly deliver abortion-inducing drugs in violation of Oklahoma law,” Erwin said. “As a pastor and a pro-life conservative, I believe we must defend innocent life with conviction. Oklahoma has led the nation in protecting the unborn, but leadership means standing firm when it counts. When legislation comes forward to stop the trafficking of dangerous abortion drugs into our communities, conservatives should be voting yes and fighting for it, not taking a walk to avoid the vote.”
Erwin said the issue is bigger than politics.
“This is about moral clarity,” he said. “Chemical abortion pills end unborn lives and create serious health risks for women. Oklahoma should be doing everything possible to stop illegal abortion pill trafficking, hold bad actors accountable, and protect both mothers and their babies. The people of Southwest Oklahoma deserve a senator who will stand boldly for life every single time.”
State lawmakers have until May 29 to finish their work.
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma.
He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews.com.