abortion

A fast-growing faction called the Abolitionists is taking control of Oklahoma's Republican Party, pushing to criminalize abortion as murder and target any politician who resists. The movement, which holds that women who obtain abortions should face prosecution, has already censured Republican legislators and is backing primary challengers against incumbents.

Oklahoma lawmakers advanced a measure that would allow out-of-state organizations to receive funding for a state program aiming to decrease abortions.

The measure would make it a felony to deliver or possess with the intent to deliver an abortion-inducing drug to someone who plans to use it to terminate a pregnancy.

This followed concerns from Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board members related to the order’s legality and impact on providers.

This comes after the agency’s board requested clarity on the executive order driving the policy.

Board members are seeking clarity on the executive order that encouraged the proposed rule.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board voted to table the approval of an emergency rule related to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent anti-abortion executive order, which asked the agency to take certain actions regarding provider contracting.

Stitt and other Republican governors argue that drug discounts can be used to support abortion services indirectly.

Repro46, a group educating Oklahomans on reproductive health care amid the state’s abortion ban, hosted free screenings of the documentary Zurawski v Texas in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

A reproductive health advocate called it a “direct attack” on Planned Parenthood and its ability to participate in Oklahoma Medicaid.