By Staff Reports (Submitted Photo)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alliance for a Pro-Life Alabama announced on Thursday that Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, Alabama Republican Party Chair Terry Lathan, and former State Representative Mary Sue McClurkin have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the group and will help lead its efforts to pass Amendment Two on the November general election ballot.
Cavanaugh was elected president of the Public Service Commission in 2012 and previously served as state chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
“Alabama has the chance to lead the nation in protecting unborn life with successful passage of Amendment Two on November 6,” Cavanaugh said. “Amendment Two declares Alabama as a pro-life state and positions us to take action in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned, which seems an increasing possibility with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.”
Lathan, a former public-school teacher in Mobile, has served as chair of the Alabama Republican Party since being elected to the post in February of 2015. She and her husband, Jerry, were selected as the “Alabama Republicans of the Year” prior to her service as state party chair.
“Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and other ultra-liberal groups are working to defeat Amendment Two and block Alabama’s opportunity to defend the unborn,” Lathan said. “According to Secretary of State finance reports, out-of-state leftist groups have donated almost $1 million to the political action committee working against Amendment Two in order to preserve the abortion mill industry.”
McClurkin served as a state representative from 1998 - 2014 and successfully passed several pro-life measures into law during her four terms in office. The Yellowhammer News political blog named her “one of the most ardently pro-life members of the Alabama legislature.”
“The same liberal groups that attacked Justice Brett Kavanaugh and attempted to destroy his life have now turned their full attention toward Alabama and Amendment Two,” McClurkin said. “The choice is clear. Alabamians can side with unborn life and support Amendment Two, or they can side with Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the abortion industry by voting against it. I’m standing strong for unborn babies.”
Alliance Executive Director Cole Wagner said the committee has previously recruited several prominent partner organizations and elected officials, which include: Alabama Citizens’ Action Program (ALCAP), Alabama Policy Institute, Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, Alabama Pro-Life Education Fund, Choose Life, Inc., Cameron’s Choice, Eagle Forum, Southeast Law Institute, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R - Monrovia), State Sen. Steve Livingston (R - Scottsboro), State Sen. Rusty Glover (R - Mobile), House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) and State Rep. Will Ainsworth (R - Guntersville), who is also the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.
Wagner noted that the Alliance has created a website at wwwallianceforaprolifealabama.com and a public Facebook page at www.facebook.com/A4PLA and have begun media efforts in support of the constitutional amendment.
The Alabama Fair Ballot Commission explains the constitutional amendment, which was sponsored and passed by State Rep. Matt Fridy (R - Montevallo), with the following description:
“Amendment 2 provides that it would be the public policy of the state to recognize and support the importance of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life; and to protect the rights of unborn children. Additionally, the amendment would make clear that the state constitution does not include a right to abortion or require the funding of an abortion using public funds.”
