| The Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 6 Wednesday, March 3, which prohibits abortion in Arkansas except when the mother’s life is at risk. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville), applies to all abortion procedures — including surgical abortions as well chemical abortions that utilize the RU-486 abortion drug. The bill passed with 75 votes in favor and 18 representatives against it and now goes to Gov. Asa Hutchinson to become law. Arkansas Right to Life supported the bill along with Family Council and other pro-life organizations. Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, applauded the action. “Arkansas has once again proven that the heart of Arkansas beats for life with the passing of SB6 the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Jason Rapert and Representative Mary Bentley in passing this monumental legislation to right the wrong of legal abortion, and the devastating loss in human life and suffering it has caused,” said Mimms. “We encourage Governor Hutchinson to quickly sign it and we thank all the members of the General Assembly who supported SB6.” If enforced, S.B. 6 would save thousands of unborn children in Arkansas every year. If the ACLU or others challenge this law, our federal court system will have an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade and other pro-abortion decisions. Below is a breakdown of how the Arkansas House of Representatives voted on S.B. 6. (Courtesy of Family Council): Voted For S.B. 6 Barker Beatty Jr. Beck Bentley S. Berry M. Berry Boyd Bragg Breaux Brooks Brown Bryant Carr Cavenaugh Christiansen Cloud Coleman C. Cooper Cozart Crawford Dalby M. Davis Deffenbaugh Dotson Eaves Eubanks Evans C. Fite L. Fite Fortner Furman Gazaway Gonzales M. Gray Haak Hawks Hillman Holcomb Hollowell Jean L. Johnson Ladyman Lowery Lundstrum Lynch Maddox J. Mayberry McClure McCollum M. McElroy McGrew McKenzie McNair S. Meeks Miller Milligan Payton Penzo Pilkington Ray Richmond Rye Shepherd Slape B. Smith S. Smith Speaks Tosh Underwood Vaught Wardlaw Warren Watson Wing Womack Wooten Voted Against S.B. 6 F. Allen Clowney A. Collins Ennett D. Ferguson V. Flowers D. Garner Godfrey M. Hodges Hudson Love McCullough Murdock Nicks Perry Richardson Scott Springer D. Whitaker Voted “Present” on S.B. 6 Tollett Did Not Vote K. Ferguson Fielding Jett Magie |
Categories: Legislative Action