Lawmakers React to Louisiana House Criminalizing Abortion Pills

Hours after the Louisiana House voted Tuesday to criminalize possession of mifepristone and misoprostol without a prescription, lawmakers reacted to the vote, some expressing anger while others celebrated the legislation.

The unprecedented legislation is the first time a state has declared abortion drugs to be controlled substances. Both drugs are used to induce a medical abortion.

The state House approved the bill by a vote of 64 in favor and 29 against, and it now returns to the state Senate for a concurring vote. It would then go to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry (R), who was expected to sign it.

Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media platform X responding to the poll, saying it is “absolutely unfair.”

“The Louisiana House just passed a bill that would criminalize possession of a medication abortion, with penalties of up to several years in prison,” she wrote. “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump did it.”

State Sen. Thomas Pressly (R), who sponsored the bill, posted in response to Harris’ comment, saying it is unfair for her to lie about her legislation, which began after her sister unknowingly received the drug.

“Leaving out the part about ‘not having a valid prescription’ and our efforts to protect pregnant women from being prescribed abortion medication by evil spouses is a huge omission. Posted by the press.

Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ) he said he was “disgusted” by the vote. He said he has introduced legislation trying to protect mifepristone and women’s right to choose “across the country, like we do here in NJ.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) also released a statement after the vote, warning Republicans who approved it.

“If Louisiana can pass this dangerous bill, other Republican-led states will follow. The only way to stop this onslaught of Republican attacks in Louisiana and across the country is to make a concerted effort to build Democratic power in state legislatures,” DLCC National Press Secretary Sam Paisely said in a statement.

Although the measure is unpopular among pro-choice Democrats, pro-life groups celebrated the vote. The group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America released a statement saying the legislation should not be controversial.

“Like morphine and Valium, the medications in question will continue to be available for prescription for legitimate medical reasons – such as miscarriage care – but will be more difficult for abusers to obtain,” said the group’s Southern Regional Director, Caitlin Connors. , in the statement.

Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) said in a thread on X that she supports the legislation because drugs are increasingly shipped from outside of Louisiana.

The Louisiana Right to Life group posted online that he is proud of the state Legislature for its support of the bill “and for its advocacy for the health and safety of women and girls.”

Surgical and medical abortion are already prohibited in Louisiana except to save a patient’s life or if the pregnancy is “medically futile.” It is illegal to mail abortion pills in the state, but laws in other states allow doctors to continue to prescribe and ship the medications through an online telehealth option.

The amendment makes it a crime for anyone who does not have a prescription or is a licensed supplier to possess the medicines. People can face up to five years in prison.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story