Fetal Heartbeat Bill Heads for Vote in the Arkansas House
By: David Goins, KARK 4 News
Updated: February 7, 2013
A committee of the Arkansas House is advancing what could be the most restrictive abortion law in the country.
Governor Mike Beebe is calling the proposed Fetal Heartbeat bill unconstitutional.
Under the proposal, if a doctor can detect a heartbeat and the pregnancy is past 12 weeks, an abortion would be illegal. The exceptions to that are in situations of the mother's health, rape or incest.
"The choice that's there can be made in the first 12 weeks," says Ann Clemmer (R-Benton).
Supporters of the bill say it would stop 815 abortions in Arkansas every year.
Those against it, including Curtis Lowery with UAMS, say it violates the doctor-patient relationship.
"Doctors who are trying to make appropriate decisions about the pregnancy will be, can be convicted of being a felon," Lowery says.
When it came time to vote, the bill moved to the full House.
Bill sponsor Jason Rapert says the law can hold up, but he'll have to convince the governor.
"They're in a position now where they really can not argue that this is unconstitutional. This is allowed by Roe v. Wade," Rapert says.
"Rapert's bill appears to be patently unconstitutional. That means it's got problems. That means its got problems with me," says Governor Beebe.
Rapert and Clemmer say they have the votes in the House, which should vote on the bill Monday.
Governor Mike Beebe is calling the proposed Fetal Heartbeat bill unconstitutional.
Under the proposal, if a doctor can detect a heartbeat and the pregnancy is past 12 weeks, an abortion would be illegal. The exceptions to that are in situations of the mother's health, rape or incest.
"The choice that's there can be made in the first 12 weeks," says Ann Clemmer (R-Benton).
Supporters of the bill say it would stop 815 abortions in Arkansas every year.
Those against it, including Curtis Lowery with UAMS, say it violates the doctor-patient relationship.
"Doctors who are trying to make appropriate decisions about the pregnancy will be, can be convicted of being a felon," Lowery says.
When it came time to vote, the bill moved to the full House.
Bill sponsor Jason Rapert says the law can hold up, but he'll have to convince the governor.
"They're in a position now where they really can not argue that this is unconstitutional. This is allowed by Roe v. Wade," Rapert says.
"Rapert's bill appears to be patently unconstitutional. That means it's got problems. That means its got problems with me," says Governor Beebe.
Rapert and Clemmer say they have the votes in the House, which should vote on the bill Monday.
