The Oklahoma legislature has approved a law banning nearly all abortions starting at the moment of fertilization. The Oklahoma bill also subjects abortion providers or anyone who aids or abets an abortion to civil lawsuits from private individuals. Susan Rinkunas, senior reporter at Jezebel, joins Cheddar News to discuss. 

Cheddar's News Wrap

Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Strictest Abortion Bill in the Nation

Welcome back to Chester's news wrap the strictest and most intense abortion law in the nation is one step closer to becoming law. Yesterday, the Oklahoma Legislature approved a law banning nearly all abortions starting at the moment of fertilization. The Oklahoma bill also subjects abortion providers or anyone who aides or abets and abortion to civil lawsuits from private individuals very similar to what we are seeing in texas. Join me now to discuss is Susan, raccoons, senior reporter at jezebel. Susan, Welcome to the show. So no other state in the nation currently prohibits abortion starting at fertilization. This Oklahoma legislation is attempting to do just that by employing a legal tactic that the courts as you well know and have reported on our allowing, can you explain this tactic to the viewers? Absolutely, and it is more of a tax, an actual legitimate legal strategy on its face. It does mean that private citizens can file costly lawsuits if they think an abortion provider has violated the law. But the real goal isn't lawsuits, it's to scare providers into halting abortion services entirely. And that's exactly what happened in texas. But after the Supreme Court let its laws take effect um if providers were to defy the law and get sued, they could countersue and possibly get a court to block the law, but neither planned parenthood or independent clinics have been willing to defy these laws the far um partly because as I report on jezebel of restrictions on patient funding from a nonprofit group called the National abortion federation. So the law would take effect effect immediately as soon as governor Stitt signs it. What direct impact will follow as soon as this happens if it happens. It's a great question because it's important to note that there is currently an identical law to the texas law in effect in Oklahoma right now. So there's um a ban on, on abortions after the detection of cardiac activity in an embryo, which is about um after six weeks of pregnancy or two weeks after MS period. So very few people can get abortions right now is just something we should remind people of. This. Newer bill would ban abortions after fertile evasion, which to be clear is before someone could even possibly test positive on a pregnancy test. Um, it's a near total ban and barring very few pathetic exceptions that they passed this law, anyone seeking an abortion to travel out of state or manage their own abortion with pills which is criminalized in Oklahoma. And I just want to make a point about the impact that these bills have, doesn't remain within the state that passed them. Um, It spills over into other states after the texas law, just on its own. People are traveling to Oklahoma Arkansas Louisiana, Mississippi Alabama florida, even blue states like new Mexico and colorado. Um, and a ban in a second state is going to push even more people to travel and make it harder for people to get appointments in those states. Um, so it's, it's, it's not just, you know, what's happening in Oklahoma and texas is not staying there. So this law does have some exceptions for rape and incest. This is something I haven't heard before of any state even considering, but only if it's reported to law enforcement. Talk to me about why this is so problematic. Susan, uh how much time you have? It's exceedingly problematic. It plays into concepts that uh women cry rape and aren't, you know, talking about legitimate assaults. Um and also no one should have to engage with the criminal legal system if you want to in order to get health care. So it's just problematic to ask people to report something to the police before they could potentially go see a health care provider. Not only are their rape and incest exceptions to the law, there is also the life of the mother exception. But notably these bills are written in a way that it has to be like a person's life has to be almost an imminent danger in order for an abortion to be allowed. And frankly by that time the person may die because it's it's gotten so far into that that they can call for the exception that they may not survive. Um it's something that has been happening in texas, people have had to get on planes because they're miscarrying or they have an ectopic pregnancy and the providers in the state are too scared of lawsuits to care for them planned parenthood is taking Oklahoma to court. How could this play out? Yeah, I'll note that planned parenthood took Oklahoma to court after the other band, The six week one that is identical to texas and sadly uh an Oklahoma state court did not lock the immediately in that case. So um this law as soon as governor sits sides it will go into effect because it has what's known as an emergency provisions attached to it. Um So The next court hearing for the six week band isn't until June two so it looks like this one will take effect for them, you know, as soon as I don't know today Monday. Um and it will supersede this six weeks fan almost totally outlaw abortions in the state. So there are over a dozen states that say they will, they have laws on the books to ban abortion if the Supreme Court does strike to remove roe v wade Kentucky is one of those states. Obviously it's getting a lot of pushback from the Democratic governor and the federal judge there. Talk to me about what's going on in Kentucky. Susan Kentucky's abortion restriction um is what's known as an omnibus bill that has so many restrictions to it that providers said it was impossible to comply with including needing to report information to databases that weren't even set up yet by the state. That law is currently blocked and just yesterday I believe um a judge granted an extension to the injunction blocking that law. But okay, so abortion is legal in Kentucky right now, um with under its normal restrictions, let me say that. But as you just referenced the Supreme Court, look exceedingly likely be to fully overturn roe v wade. And that could happen in the next five weeks before the end of june when their term ends. I will note that there is a decision day on monday. Um we don't necessarily expect blockbuster decision like the row case to come on monday, but it could literally come at any time. So right now abortion is available in Kentucky. But if and when Rome falls Kentucky could try to push other restrictions, including bringing its trigger ban into effect. Susan raccoons, Senior reporter at jezebel. I really appreciate your work and your time here. Thank you so much Susan.