By Journalist Olivia Kopang (OSU)
On Friday morning, the House was in an uproar over proposed bill TU-501, titled “Women Are Not Without Political Power.” The bill has to do with repealing the original piece of legislation passed in 1910. The original writing states that every person who administers, prescribed, or advises any drug to a pregnant woman with the intention of obtaining a miscarriage unless it’s necessary to save her life, will be guilty of a felony and sentenced to no more than five years in prison.
The author of the bill, Rep. Hensley (TU) was fielding questions left and right, articulating her intent behind the piece. Representatives watched the lively discussion in suspense of what was to come and some had resolute opinions on the issue at hand. Rep. Ava Carr (NWOSU) expressed her thoughts stating “this was made a law before women even had the right to vote… it’s about abortion but the main issue isn’t’ that it’s an abortion bill.” Carr said she would be voting for the repeal because the original bill is “directly targeting pregnant people.”
Rep. Jacob Martin (NWOSU) conveyed that he would also be voting yes on the bill, implying that “if someone wants to bring it [the bill] back when women have the right to have an opinion on it that’s totally different from this existing from 113 years ago.” Martin also argued that “something that was written before women has the right to vote, pertaining to women’s issues, shouldn’t be in our legislature.”
The heated discussion eventually led a representative to call for a debate with the two arguing sides of the bill. Bystanders were both intrigued and apprehensive to see how the contention would play out in real time. Representatives excited to see their opinions heard, eager voices anxiously waiting for their turn to speak, all of which led to a showdown of loud shouts and an overwhelming number in the approbative. The final tally was 45 in the affirmative and seven in the negative.