Sen. Doug Jones: Alabama abortion bill ‘unconstitutional and shameful’

Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) spoke out against his state’s passage Tuesday of the country’s most restrictive abortion bill, calling it “unconstitutional and shameful.”
“I refuse to believe that these Republican men represent the views of most Alabamians. Their action is both unconstitutional and shameful,” Jones said on Twitter, referencing the 25-6 majority that passed the bill in the state senate Tuesday. “The people of Alabama deserve to be on the #rightsideofhistory – not the side of extremists. Women deserve better.”
I refuse to believe that these Republican men represent the views of most Alabamians. Their action is both unconstitutional and shameful. The people of Alabama deserve to be on the #rightsideofhistory – not the side of extremists. Women deserve better. https://t.co/ky3oSeEDXC
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) May 15, 2019
{mosads}The legislation would ban abortions in almost all instances, including in cases of rape and incest, making an exception only where the life of the mother is in danger. Anyone performing an abortion could face up to 99 years in prison. Many of the legislation’s proponents have said they hope to set up a Supreme Court fight in which the high court’s conservative majority revisits the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Jones, who won a special election in 2017 to complete then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ term, is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent Senate Democrats in 2020.
Several of Jones’ Senate colleagues have spoken out against the measure, particularly presidential candidates, with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), invoking Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) calling it part of a “war on women.”
Gov. Kay Ivey (R) has not yet indicated whether she will sign the bill.
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