Watch the shouting match that put a vote on Alabama's abortion-banning bill on hold

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter)

published 9 May 2019

Alabama's attempt to crank out the harshest anti-abortion law in the country is on hold for now.

On Thursday, the state Senate moved to pass a version of a statehouse-passed bill that effectively bans all abortions in the state. The original bill didn't contain an exception for rape or incest, but even after the Senate quickly tried to add one, a shouting match on the chamber floor got a final vote on the bill delayed until next week.

The bill would criminalize abortions of a fetus "in utero" with a prison sentence of up to 99 years, allowing exceptions only when a mother's health is at serious risk. The Senate tried to add an exception for rape or incest to the bill on Thursday, and Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D) then said he'd like to have a roll call vote on every question surrounding the bill, AL.com reports. But Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth quickly gaveled for a voice vote on the amendment, and then said it passed as Singleton continued to yell against the swift proceedings.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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