The Georgia “Heartbeat” abortion ban just passed with 92 votes. It needed 91. It’s expected to be signed by Republican Governor Kemp, who some think stole his election from Stacey Abrams.This will put Georgia in the same category as other states in showcasing how backward the Republican party is.
It’s expected to be challenged in court by pro-choice groups, but not before some serious damage may be done to the state. Georgia is #3 in the country behind California and New York in the film and TV industries. This billion dollar industry has threatened to take its business elsewhere because of this kind of stupidity. Yes, elections have consequences. But so does the purse.
Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
Rant on.
UPDATE just now from Congresswoman Lucy McBath:
Ann, I am shaken.
Minutes ago, the Georgia State Legislature just voted to effectively ban abortion by passing HB 481 -- the "Heartbeat Bill" that I emailed about yesterday. There is no doubt Governor Brian Kemp will sign the bill into law the moment it reaches his desk.
There's also no doubt that my Republican opponents in our 2020 re-election race are celebrating this bill's passage as a "victory."One of them -- State Senator Brandon Beach -- voted in favor of the bill. And our 2018 opponent Karen Handel voted to ban abortion several times during her half-term in Washington D.C.
As pro-choice Democrats we can, and we will, fight this bill. The battle will go to the courts now, and it's likely that they'll find this abortion ban unconstitutional.Nevertheless, today is a shameful day for Georgia. This move to ban abortions is bad public policy, morally wrong, and unconstitutional. And it's wrong for my constituents in Georgia's 6th District.
You better believe I'll be fighting tooth and nail against this law until it's struck down in the courts. I hope you'll be right there with me.
In solidarity,-- Lucy