Senate OKs plan to suspend licenses of abortion doctors

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Any physician who performs an abortion would be unable to obtain a license to practice medicine in Oklahoma under a bill that has overwhelmingly passed the state Senate.

The bill passed Tuesday on a 40-7 vote over the objections of some Senate Democrats who insisted the measure was unconstitutional and would never be upheld by the courts.

Anti-abortion activists packed the Senate gallery and applauded Broken Arrow Republican Nathan Dahm when he said the intent of the bill was to "protect the life of the unborn."

The bill directs Oklahoma medical licensure officials not to renew or grant a license to any physician who performs an abortion.

Senate Democratic Leader Sen. John Sparks successfully amended the bill to require the attorney general to disclose the costs of defending the proposal.