Oklahoma Republican Speaks Out Against Anti-Choice Bill: ‘It’s Prejudiced Against Women’
Oklahoma has already enacted some of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation. Nonetheless, the GOP-controlled legislature currently advancing two additional measures to compromise women’s access to reproductive health care — one that would impose the same restrictions on abortion providers that are currently closing dozens of clinics in Texas, and another that would prevent teens younger than 17 from buying Plan B over the counter.
But not every Republican in the state is supportive of the recent push. Rep. Doug Cox (R) is speaking out against the proposed anti-choice legislation. Cox attempted to amend the first bill to include dermatologists in the medical professionals who are regulated by the state, saying that makes about as much sense as placing additional restrictions on abortion providers. And he blasted the second bill for being unnecessary and biased against young women.
Cox pointed out that teen pregnancy is still an issue in Oklahoma. The state’s teen birth rate is the second highest in the nation, and more than 2,000 girls under the age of 17 gave birth in 2010. The state lawmaker noted that if the state prevents teens from being able to buy emergency contraception without a prescription, girls will lose out on important resources to control their sexual health.
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