House Passes Opt-Out, Straughter Holds It Up

Just a few minutes ago the House passed the abortion opt-out by a relatively easy 75-32 margin. Without seeing the roll call, and based on comments from members on Twitter, we can assume that the Black Caucus is the main opponent of the bill.

For the second time in a row, a member of the Black Caucus has help legislation up on a motion to reconsider. It was Rep. Credel Calhoun (D-Jackson) on Thursday and it is Rep. Rufus Straughter (D-Belzoni) today. Unless Straughter withdraws his motion, the House can not table the motion until tomorrow although they will wait until next week. Apparently before the vote, Straughter referenced the Dred Scott decision in relation to the bill.

That is two overwhelming bi-partisan votes in favor of this legislation. On Twitter, Rep. Brandon Jones (D-Pascagoula) said, “For many of us in the House, the opt-out provision is about ensuring gov’t funds aren’t used for elective abortions– nothing else.” Many Black Caucus members have taken this as a threat to Barack Obama- and we have seen there extreme sensitivity about this- but it looks like they are swimming upstream without many white Democrats to rely on.

Update: I spoke with a Representative and they said that 31 of the bills’ opponents were members of the Black Caucus and the other was Linda Whittington, a Democrat from Schalter, who represents a majority-black district. From what I have heard, the Black Caucus is pretty upset with Speaker McCoy right now; while in an interesting twist Republicans are happy with the Speaker.

Another interesting tidbit is that because Public Health Committee Chairman Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) and Vice-Chairman Omeria Scott (D-Laurel) were AWOL for the day, the responsibility to guiding the bill through the committee was actually placed on Rep. Toby Baker (R-Hattiesburg), who is secretary of the committee.