The Chaotic Spectacle of Alabama Republicans Fighting to Criminalize Abortion at Conception

Alabama Senate Republicans spent Thursday morning attempting to pass an anti-abortion bill that would, if enacted, become the most punitive and restrictive abortion ban in the country (which is saying a lot). The bill would ban most abortions from the point of conception onwards, with few exceptions, and slap doctors with criminal charges for performing the procedure. The New York Times reports that a doctor “could be charged with a felony, and face up to 99 years in prison, for performing an abortion in most circumstances; a doctor could risk a 10-year prison term for attempting an abortion.” The bill makes an exception for health of the pregnant person and rape or incest.

And amazingly, Alabama Senate Republicans—all men, I’ll note— tried to drop the rape and incest exception from the bill without even holding a roll call vote on that decision. Democrats rightly lost their shit. Watch the video here:

“I know you all are for this bill—and I know this bill is going to pass,” a Democratic state senator says from the floor. “You’re going to get your way. But at least treat us fairly, and do it the right way. That is all that I ask.”

The bill is part of a terrifying strategy from Republicans who want to take advantage of a Supreme Court stacked with conservative judges. According to the bill’s sponsor, Alabama Rep. Terri Collins, Republicans want a legal challenge, hoping that with an increasingly conservative court system, the bill will make its way to the Supreme Court and force them to reconsider Roe v. Wade. This is so fucking evil.

The vote will take place next week, and if passed, Governor Kay Ivey is expected to sign it into law.