Gov. Henry veto on abortion bill stands

The state Senate failed this morning to override Gov. Brad Henry's veto of an abortion bill by one vote.

 

Senate Bill 714 would have banned the use of state facilities or employees to perform abortions. The vote was 31 in favor of the override, with 17 opposed.

 

The bill first passed out of the Senate by a vote of 32-16, one vote short of sustaining a veto.

 

Gov. Henry then vetoed the bill last week, citing several concerns, including infringing upon the doctor-patient relationship.

 

OBJECTIONS

Sen. Debbie Leftwich, D-OklahomaCity, said her major objection to the bill was it did not provide an exception for rape and incest. She also warned senators that passage of the bill could jeopardize the accreditation status of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

 

The bill's sponsor, Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, said the purpose of the measure is to stop taxpayer funding of abortions, not ban the procedure. He pointed out that less than 1 percent of all abortions are for rape and incest. "Scott Cooper