Bevin holds ceremonial signing of four pro-life bills in Owensboro

August 9, 2019 | 3:30 am

Updated August 8, 2019 | 11:23 pm

Gov. Matt Bevin ceremonially signed four pro-life bills, which were sponsored and supported by state representatives who live west of Interstate 65. | Photo by Owensboro Times

Governor Matt Bevin spoke to a crowd of 100 people at the Daviess County Courthouse on Thursday, before ceremonially signing four pro-life bills, although all have already been signed into law by the 2019 General Assembly.

These four bills include Senate Bill 9, the Heartbeat Bill banning abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat, Senate Bill 50, the Chemical Abortion Reporting Act requiring doctors present information to patients about the reversal of medication abortions, House Bill 5, the Human Rights of the Unborn Act, which bans abortions based on sex, race or perceived disability, and House Bill 148, which determines abortions in Kentucky would still be banned if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned.

Three of the four pro-life bills were sponsored and supported by state representatives who live west of Interstate 65, Bevin said to an audience that clapped and cheered.

One of those representatives, State Senator Matt Castlen, would later host a meet and greet for Bevin at his business, Castlen Steel. Castlen introduced Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center Richard Nelson — a right-to-life organization — to present Bevin with the CPC’s Friend of Life award.

Bevin attended a meet and greet hosted by State Senator Matt Castlen at Castlen Steel. | Photo by AP Imagery

“This week we are celebrating the signing of four pro-life bills into law, thanks to Governor Bevin,” he said. “The unborn are difficult to see. They don’t have a voice, they don’t have any lobbyists in Frankfort, but they do have an advocate in the governor’s office in Matt Bevin.”

Crowd members filled the courthouse carrying “I’m Alive” signs and chanting the phrase as they waited for Bevin to arrive. Once the governor approached the podium, he spoke in depth about his passion for the lives of the unborn.

“What a precious, precious gift life is–an extraordinary gift,” he said.

Bevin said having faith wasn’t a necessity in being pro-life, calling the issue “not that complicated.”

“We know for a fact it’s not just a cluster of cells. There’s a heartbeat, there’s a little, tiny person in there,” he said. “We know it’s not going to turn out to be a goat; it’s not going to turn out to be a chicken. It’s a little tiny human being in there.”

Bevin also made a plea for Kentucky children in foster care.

“We have 10,000 kids in foster care who need you to adopt them,” he said. “We have 2,500 of those kids who just want a forever family. Guess what — there’s 6,500 places of worship in Kentucky. How sad is it that a state with 6,500 churches, we have 2,500 kids who can’t find a home? How can we not find a home for every two-and-a-half churches in Kentucky? There’s four-and-a-half million of us.”

One of Bevin’s themes — both for the ceremonial signing and later into the evening at Castlen Steel — revolved around blessings and opportunities.

“People ask me, ‘Is it fun to be governor?’” he said. “No, it’s not fun, but here’s the thing. The reason I’m working like I am to make this place better is because I want my children and my grandchildren to be able to be here. I want opportunities to be here. I want the governor of Tennessee to wonder why his kids have to go to Kentucky to get a job, instead of the other way around.”

Bevin said Kentucky was blessed with better rivers, more available land, roadways, railways and quality of life.

“We have an incredible value system and work ethic — it’s an incredible melding of southern graciousness and hospitality with midwestern sensibilities, work ethic and integrity,” he said. “All of these things coming together in Kentucky — if we can’t sell that, if we can’t elevate that, then shame on us — we’re not trying.”

Photo by AP Imagery

August 9, 2019 | 3:30 am

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