States attorneys in Oklahoma have
filed a motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order issued earlier
this week by an Oklahoma County judge which blocks enforcement of a new
state abortion law.

The controversial law would require that private, confidential medical
information of women seeking abortions be put on a public website.

And the Republicans are the party of individual rights and opposition to government intrusion?

The Oklahoma Journal Record reports that a spokesperson for Oklahoma Attorney General
Drew Edmondson said District Judge Twyla Mason Gray will rule on the
motion by Friday of next week.

According to the Journal:

Gray issued the order, which
prevents the law from taking effect on Nov. 1.  A motion for a temporary
injunction against the law is pending. A hearing on that motion is
scheduled for Dec. 4.

Dionne Scott, senior press officer for the
New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said that Gray also
required the plaintiffs to post a $25,000 bond, which Scott said is
unusual.

“While Oklahoma law does have a rule that parties
requesting a temporary restraining order must post bond, there is no
required amount under that rule, and the judge’s reasoning behind the
unusually large amount of $25,000 is unclear,” Scott said.

Two
Oklahomans, former state Rep. Wanda Stapleton of Oklahoma City and Lora
Joyce Davis, Shawnee, filed a legal challenge to the law in September.

The state opposed the plaintiffs’ motion for the TRO.

Assistant
Attorney General Gregory Metcalfe said the two women have not clearly
shown they would suffer any irreparable harm if the law takes effect
for a month prior to the Dec. 4 hearing.

“Rather, it is the
public that will be harmed if plaintiffs are permitted to frustrate the
efforts of the Legislature without demonstrating any justification for
having the act put on hold,” Metcalfe told the court in the state’s
response to the plaintiffs’ motion.

The law expands reporting
requirements for several state agencies, and for doctors who perform
abortions. It also prohibits abortions based upon fetus gender and
redefines numerous abortion-related terms in the Oklahoma statutes.

Stapleton
and Davis are challenging the law as a violation of a provision in the
Oklahoma Constitution that prohibits legislative measures covering more
than one subject.

Stapleton said the plaintiffs are delighted with Gray’s order.

“Otherwise the bill would have gone into effect before the hearing,” she said.

Stapleton said the measure would work against taxpayers, women in particular.

“This is a hostile bill,” she said.

Stapleton said it would cost about $250,000 annually, “which will be used to harass and intimidate women seeking an abortion.”

The
former lawmaker said the measure is just one of an “avalanche” of
anti-choice bills filed since 2005 to place obstacles in the path of
women.

“Those obstacles are intended to discourage and scare them to death,” Stapleton said.

Tony
Lauinger, chairman of Oklahomans for Life, said the new law will serve
public health needs. He said part of its reporting requirements relate
to complications that occur during abortions, making it possible to
gauge the harm that may be caused by the procedure.

“The
legislation will make it possible for policymakers to better understand
the reasons that women seek abortions, thereby making it possible to
address some of the underlying causes,” he said.

Right.