State Sen. Alting on abortion law: 'My heart bleeds' for Indiana women

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law a near-total ban on abortion in the state, Tippecanoe County's state senator vowed to keep fighting for Hoosier women facing what he called a government intrusion.

Two pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 1 and the tax-refunding Senate Bill 2, were into law after the Senate passed both early that day.

The signing of SB 1 marked Indiana as the first state to ban nearly all abortions since the Roe v. Wade decision.

SB1 bans abortions in the state with the exceptions of rape, incest, and the life and health of the mother.

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SB2 will provide Hoosier with a $200 refund check for Hoosier taxpayers and provide around $75 million to social services programs for mothers and children as a result of the state’s abortion ban.

SB1 passed with a vote of 28-19, and SB2 passed the Indiana Senate easily, with a vote of 37-9.

Tippecanoe legislators State Sen. Ron Alting and Sen. Brian Buchanan voted yes to sending Hoosiers a refund, but voted differently when it came to limiting abortions.

Alting voted no SB 1. and Buchanan voted yes.

Alting's 22nd District encompasses Tippecanoe County; Buchanan's 7th District is comprised of White County and portions of Boone, Carroll, Clinton, Jasper and Tippecanoe counties.

'Huge opportunity'

After the Senate was completed with the bills, legislators shared their feelings.

“I’m happy to be completed with this. It’s one of the more challenging that we’ve ever done as a state general assembly, at least certainly while I’ve been here. But couldn’t be more excited about what we’re going to be able to do for women and children here,” said State Sen. Rodric Bray, President Pro Tempore, District 37.

“$87 million, when you add it all up, to help women from the time before they become pregnant, through their pregnancy until after they have those children, bring them into the world. So, I think this is a huge opportunity, and we’ll build on that as we go forward here in the next general assembly in January, which is not that far off,” added Bray.

The author of SB2, Sen. Sue Glick, representing District 13, expressed her joy at the passage of the bill Friday night.

“I’m glad this part is over, but I look forward to the implementation of Senate Bill 2. I have assurances from a lot of people, the men and women of the Senate and many members of the House of Representatives that we can make these programs work and we can implement them as soon as possible,” said Glick.

'Right side of history'

Although a majority of the Republican representatives were happy with Friday night's vote, Sen. Alting was one of the few Republicans who voted against the abortion bill and vocalized his emotions.

“I’m disappointed. The bill came back from House, it made it worse. I mean it, lowered it to 10 weeks. So, I mean, I say to women of rape and incest, to women of intellectual disabilities (who have) 10 times greater chance of being raped. It’s a losing day. I mean, you’ll be forced to have the child, some of them might not even know that they’re pregnant in 10 weeks,” said Alting.

“I feel like my vote, my conscious, my heart and soul are on the right side of history. History was made tonight.”

The shock of Friday’s decision could be seen on Alting’s face as he somberly starred at the protestors crying outside of the Senate chamber.

“We will get through this because we are a state of survivors, and we’ll move on and look for bigger and better things,” he added.

Before the end of the night, Alting wanted to reassure the women of Tippecanoe County that he wasn’t giving up on the fight for their rights.

“I’ll continue to work and see what we can do in the future. I listened to you as your state senator, and I voted against this bill. I think it’s an intrusion, government intrusion in women’s rights. And I think it’s very vulnerable to minorities, women of color, and particularly those with intellectual disabilities. All women. Rape and incest, the women that go through that are faced with the consequence of what we just did today. It’s horrible, it’s absolutely horrible,” said Alting.

“My heart bleeds for them. I have a daughter, so I know what they’re thinking because I’m thinking of them as a father.”

Indiana's near-total ban on abortion will take effect on Sept. 15.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Indiana abortion law signing draws reaction from area legislators