WASHINGTON — A reminder: Louisiana House Republicans are scheduled to debate a first-in-the-nation bill today that would classify abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances, similar to some narcotics. GOP anti-abortion extremism knows no bounds in Louisiana, given this push comes as the state already has a total abortion ban on the books.
Among other extreme components, this dangerous bill would:
- Reclassify misoprostol and mifepristone, which are used in the vast majority of abortions nationwide and are FDA-approved, as Schedule IV drugs
- Threaten to criminalize the possession of abortion medication without a prescription with a punishment of up to ten years in prison
- Add unreasonable hurdles to the prescription process for doctors and OBGYNs who are already fleeing the state, due to the extreme and total abortion ban
State legislatures are the arbiters of abortion access and Republicans continue to churn out the extreme anti-abortion attacks that make health care inaccessible and dangerous. The DLCC is committed to highlighting the worst GOP attacks on reproductive rights as we work to elect champions of reproductive freedom to state legislatures across the country.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Communications Director Abhi Rahman issued the following statement:
“This first-in-the-nation bill poses a grave threat to Louisianans – it’s outrageous that state Republicans are considering imposing jail time for the possession of safe, FDA-approved abortion medication. A total abortion ban is already law in Louisiana, and has ravaged reproductive health care in the state. Patients across the country should be put on notice – we know Republicans across the country will soon feel emboldened to follow in Louisiana’s footsteps and criminalize abortion medication too. The DLCC will continue to sound the alarm on egregious attacks on women and health care providers – in Louisiana and across the nation. State legislatures are the battlegrounds determining the whole spectrum of reproductive care.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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