In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe vs. Wade and Arkansas’s trigger law that banned abortion except to save the life of the mother, what’s a crusading lawmaker to do now that he can’t dream up laws to chip away abortion access? Mostly beat up on transgender Arkansans, it turns out. But Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton), a hospital chaplain, isn’t willing to let the abortion win ride.
His Senate Bill 307 would pave the way for the creation of a “Monument to Unborn Children.” The monument would be paid for by private funds. The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission would be responsible or approving the design and creator of the monument, though the secretary of state would have final approval.
Sen. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock), who continues to eloquently and forcefully push back against the endless stupid legislation coming through the Senate, argued that the Capitol grounds aren’t the place to take on controversial topics. Honoring veterans or civil rights heroes is something all Arkansans agree on. Tucker noted that the widely respected Arkansas Poll has long found that a majority of Arkansans believe that abortion should be legal in certain circumstances, and found that just as many Arkansans believe laws should make it easier to get an abortion as those who believe it should be more difficult.
Hammer snarled that the monument was for the 236,000 “babies” who weren’t allowed to take the poll.
The bill passed 25-7 with Sens. Bryan King (Green Forest) and Missy Irvin (Mountain View) not voting, Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana) voting present and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) joining all the Democrats in opposing it.
