State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) is defending his colleague State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) against criticism about a bill regarding In vitro fertilization (IVF).
Yarbrough filed HB518, also known as the Prenatal Equal Protection Act among other bills on personal choice and pro-life issues. The legislation was assigned to the Health Committee chaired by Lee.
“Lee reached out to me to offer an amendment that would make IVF a standalone issue and separate from my bill,” Yarbrough said Wednesday in a statement. “I chose not to move forward at this time because of concerns around IVF legislation that we passed last session and how that affected the personhood discussion.”
Gov. Kay Ivey signed IVF protections legislation in 2024, after it received overwhelming support from the Alabama Legislature.
Lee has been attacked online in a coordinated fashion by special interest groups, including the Foundation to Abolish Abortion and End Abortion Alabama. A news report today detailed how groups are repetitively using the word “murder” and equating State Rep. Lee to being in favor of abortion.
Yarborough, who is closely affiliated with End Abortion Alabama, said those attacks are “patently false.”
“There have subsequently been groups that have sent out emails to legislators or spread information accusing Chairman Lee of murder,” Yarbrough said. “This is patently false as well as destructive to a good cause and his sincere efforts regarding this legislation.”
Yarbrough said he wants to address the IVF issue in the future, but now believes it should be address in separate legislation.
“I would like to publicly thank Chairman Lee for his willingness to engage in this conversation as well as future legislation regarding prenatal personhood and pro-life IVF and publicly condemn accusations of murder as unfair, inaccurate, and unhelpful to a good cause,” He argued. “There is a proper and professional way for elected officials and citizens to engage in the legislative process. I ask that you cease and desist these attacks on Rep. Lee.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
