Posted on 03/28/2013 10:52:39 AM PDT by Red Steel
LITTLE ROCK (AP) - The Arkansas Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of legislation that would ban most abortions from the 12th week of pregnancy onward and give the state the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.
There was no debate before the 20-14 vote. Beebe told legislators in his letter explaining his veto Monday that he believes the proposal is unconstitutional and conflicts with the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. But the bill's sponsor said after Tuesday's vote that he thinks the Democratic governor is wrong.
"That's not valid. The U.S. Constitution says nothing whatsoever about abortion. This is governed by case law," said Sen. Jason Rapert, a Republican from Conway.
The House sponsor of Rapert's bill said she'll ask that chamber to vote on an override Wednesday. Only a simple majority is needed in each chamber to trump a governor's veto. If the House overrides Beebe's veto, the 12-week ban would take effect later this year.
Last week, the Republican-controlled Legislature overrode Beebe's veto of a separate bill outlawing most abortions beginning in the 20th week of pregnancy. That bill, which immediately became law, is based on the disputed notion that a fetus can feel pain by then and thus, deserves protection from abortion.
So-called fetal pain laws enacted in other states are being challenged in court, and abortion rights proponents have said they would sue to block Arkansas' 12-week ban if it's approved. The 12-week standard is based on when a fetus' heartbeat can typically be detected through an abdominal ultrasound.
(Excerpt) Read more at arkansasbusiness.com ...
Yes! Another one bites the dust! :D
I wonder why it only takes a simple majority to override? My guess would be that the previously permanent rat legislature wanted to be able to easily slap down the occasional GOP guv.
Hopefully Mark Pryor (D) will be looking for a new job come Nov 2014!
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