NYC Mayor Urges Gov. Fallin To Oppose Oklahoma Anti-Abortion Legislation

The Mayor of New York City is urging Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin to oppose an anti-abortion legislation.

On Thursday, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. The Center for Reproductive Rights says the measure is the first of its kind in the nation. The bill also would restrict any physician who performs an abortion from obtaining or renewing a license to practice medicine in Oklahoma.

The bill now heads to the governor’s office.

New York City major Bill de Blasio released a statement, condemning the legislation and urging Gov. Mary Fallin not to sign it. 

The NYC major also threatened that if this legislation is signed, he would ban city employees from using public funds on non-essential travel to Oklahoma until further notice.

Here's the complete statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio:

“Yet again, legislators are attempting to turn back the hands of time and violate the constitutional rights of women. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin is currently considering legislation that would revoke the medical license of any doctor performing abortions in the state, except in the most extreme cases where the woman’s life is at risk. Women, regardless of where they live, should be able to make their own private health care decisions and have control over their bodies – not politicians. While this dangerous attempt to impinge on a woman’s constitutional right to choose sits in front of Oklahoma’s top executive, NYC urges Governor Fallin to oppose the bill and sends a message to women in Oklahoma and other states where women’s reproductive rights are threatened: New York welcomes you, supports you, and is open to all those seeking safe, legal abortion. If this legislation is signed, in demonstration of New York City’s strong opposition to it, I will ban employees of the City of New York from using public funds on non-essential travel to the state of Oklahoma until further notice.”

Meanwhile, after the legislature passed the bill, 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a statement on her Twitter account, saying not only is this bill unconstitutional, but it is wrong.