UPDATE: (MS Legislators suspend rules) Abortion Debate Lives On

[Maddy McCall]

Goddam it! The House and Senate suspended legislative rules to renew debate on the abortion ban. Let's hope that our five stonewallers can hold their position.

From the article at: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060329/NEWS010504/603290328

Senate Bill 2922 would ban abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the woman's life. The bill now heads back to legislative negotiators.

House Public Health Committee Chairman Steve Holland, D-Planters-ville, said he would not consider further debate on the measure.

A last-minute proposal Monday night was added by House negotiators to ban abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision legalizing the practice. Senators rejected the House plan because it was received minutes before the deadline Monday.

"The House has already filed a conference report ... those of you who are interested should go speak to (Senate Public Health Chairman Alan) Nunnelee and ask him to sign that report," Holland said Tuesday on the House floor. Nunnelee, R-Tupelo, said the House proposal forces Mississippi to wait for cases in other states to go before the nation's high court.

If you want to contact the legislators on our side who are holding the line, here's the info:

Senate:
Cindy Hyde-Smith, D-Brookhaven (on our side)
601) 359-3246
[e-mail]

Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson (one of us)
601) 359-3233
[e-mail]

House:
Steve Holland, D-Plantersville (good guy who gives the Repubs fits)
[phone] or [phone]
[e-mail]

Frances Fredericks, D-Gulfport (very intelligent and open-minded woman)
[phone]
[e-mail]

Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto (another good guy)
[phone]
[e-mail] or [e-mail]

Here's the contact info for the guy who proposed the abortion ban. Perhaps he needs to hear how an abortion ban could possibly result in people outside of Mississippi refusing to visit the state:

Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo (this guy proposed the ban on abortion)
[phone] or [phone]
[e-mail]

(Mods, please don't combine this with my previous thread. I don't want it to get lost in the thread.)

[BOSSHOG]

1. Thanks Maddy

Got to stay ever vigilant against these knotheads. I let my guard down after reading the story in this mornings Sun-Herald.

[pitohui]

2. hoo boy

it never ends

[KamaAina]

3. Reminds me of what the anti's did years ago in La.

where I was in the thick and din of the abortion debate.

The actual anti-choice bill died, so what did they do? They took another bill, having to do, I believe, with flag burning (?!) -- then amended it to strip out all the flag-burning language and insert the language from the anti-choice bill! Naturally someone objected that amendments are required to be germane; the committee chair, an anti, natch, promptly ruled that it was germane, and that the moon was made of green cheese. :sarcasm:

They will stop at nothing in their quest to subjugate women. For them, "the end justifies the means". :scared:

[Maddy McCall]

4. Kick!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. I'm confused. Did the bill pass? They are suspending debate because

they think they'll lose, or because they've won already, or what? :shrug:

[Maddy McCall]

6. Hi, MM.

Here's what happened. The bill was in committee. It had until midnight last night to make its way out of committee, but our five negotiators (listed above) held it in committee, where the bill died.

So what did Nunnlee do today? Used Bill Frist's ol' trick and suspended rules, which gives the bill a longer "shelf life" and opened it for more debate.

I adore Steve Holland...he's giving the Rabid Republicans in this state fits. He is bold, daring--probably a little too yella-dog for most DUers' taste--but in Mississippi he's loved by our left and hated by the RRR (Rabid Religious Right). Last week, at a conference in Oxford, MS, he said that he became a Democrat because it was the Christian thing to do (he switched parties about a decade ago). You would have thought that he himself crucified Christ--the RRR accused him of every anti-Christian thing they could throw at him. He's a tough guy, though, and he's not going to give in.

I think if our five ladies and gents hear support from constitutents (and people across the US) for their fortitude in this nasty fight (they've been labeled everything from "libbers" to "baby killers," they can hold their ground, and it will die again as the legislative session ends.

If you have a moment, would you let them know that you support them?

Does my explanation make sense?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Wow, a Southern politician who changed from R to D. I likes!

I'm still not sure I understand--does suspending the debate give the bill a greater, or lesser, chance of passing?

Did the debate have a chance of keeping it from getting to a vote, is a "yea" vote inevitable, and debate is essentially a filibuster, or what?

[Maddy McCall]

10. No, they didn't suspend debate...they suspended rules....

the bill should have died last night at midnight. But using the trick that Frist had planned to use, should Democrats have filibustered Bush USSC nominees, Nunnlee had rules suspended that would have made the bill die, thus keeping it alive for more debate. Debate will continue.

I kinda liked Holland's offer. He agreed to pass the bill, but said that it wouldn't go into effect until the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. In other words, abortion would not be outlawed by the state until the federal government outlawed it.

I think that the only thing going on right now is symbolic posturing in the debate. The RRRs feel good because they can say that their continuing the fight, even though it won't go anywhere. I hope.

As long as our good guys and gals can hold the bill up in committee, then it won't go to the floor for a vote, and it will die in committee when this leg. session ends.

[tinfoil tiaras]

15. Wow he switched from R-D??

I've heard of switching from D-R (ala Amy Tuck), but never that. For once, I'm proud to be from Mississippi.

Idiots! People, if you would just support damn birth control, you would have less abortions (which is what you say you want). This is me, but I don't think the whole abortion debate (to the far right fundies) is about the "lives" of "babies". I think its about keeping women in the home to have children and not pursue a career. It's some wierd Christian-right thing I don't understand. Surprisingly, I have like no republican friends (of course I go to a somewhat/kinda/very (to an extent) liberal school. Whatev. I'm going to DC tomorrow...woot.

[rodeodance]

8. k,

[rodeodance]

9. needs one more nomination folks.--to put in greatest.

[Maddy McCall]

11. Thanks, rodeo.

:hi:

[countryjake]

12. Consider it done!

Those pigs sound like persistent buggers...Nunnelee will hear from me! I've been known to cause a few conniptions, myself!

Good luck on out-talking them!

[NMMNG]

13. Done

K&R!
:kick:

[terip64]

14. done!