Fallin, Schulz Credited with Dem Leadership’s Reversal on Pro-Life Bill

A Republican state senator said GOP Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and new Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus both deserve credit for the decision by the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership to reverse their decision and allow a vote on a GOP-authored pro-life bill Thursday.

“Gov. Fallin had indicated privately through Republican leaders that she was willing to take the chair as Senate President to force a vote on pro-life SB 1742. Plus, the math changed this week when Mike Schulz was sworn in, giving Republicans a 23rd vote in the Senate,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

“With Mary Fallin in the chair and Mike Schulz in the Senate, it would have made it more likely that Republicans could win procedural votes to force a vote on this pro-life bill,” he said.

Senate Bill 1742, by Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, included several pro-life provisions that were killed earlier this session by Senate Democrat leaders. The bill would require minors to get a parent’s permission before receiving an abortion and would make it a separate crime to harm an unborn child when a crime is committed against the baby’s mother.

“Facing the pressure of Mary Fallin taking the chair with 23 Republican senators at her side, the liberal Democrat leadership had no choice but to reverse course and allow a vote on SB 1742,” Laughlin said.

Senate Democrats have blocked pro-life measures for many years, and Democrat leaders had told Republicans Wednesday that they intended to block Senate Bill 1742, too. But Democrat leaders reversed themselves Thursday and allowed a vote on Senate Bill 1742.

The Senate’s 23 Republicans were joined by 15 Democrat senators to pass the legislation on a 38 to 8 vote. SB 1742 is now on its way to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk.

There are 25 Democrats and 23 Republicans in the Senate. A bill needs 25 votes to pass, but Fallin can break a 24 to 24 tie as President of the Senate, giving a bill the 25 votes needed for final passage. She also has the constitutional authority to preside over the Senate’s daily proceedings, Laughlin said.