Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer Wields the Gavel — Like a Boss!

(Photo courtesy Georgia Senate Press Office – see more of their photos here.)

Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer (R-Duluth) took up the gavel for the first time, presiding over debate in the Georgia State Senate while Lt. Governor Casey Cagle met with Speaker David Ralston.

After six bills were handled without incident, Senator Jason Carter rose and praised Shafer’s smooth handling of the Senate. Then all hell broke loose when Senators Mike Crane and Judson Hill offered amendments to House Bill 246 to prevent government-funded abortions. From Kristina Torres at the AJC:

The state Senate made a surprise move Monday that would make it illegal for any state-sponsored insurance plan to pay for abortions.

The 34-15 vote, largely along party lines, sends House Bill 246 back to the House for consideration. HB 246 is an insurance bill that otherwise would allow the Georgia World Congress Center to make its own decisions related to employee benefits.

The language related to the insurance ban on abortions for state employees was added during a floor debate. The only exception to the proposed ban would be in cases to save a mother’s life, as added by Sen. Mike Crane, R-Newnan, and Senate Health and Human Services Chairwoman Renee Unterman, R-Buford.

The bill relates to employee benefits plans by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority; Shafer ruled an amendment to prevent ObamaCare-funded abortions non-germane, while the amendment that passed specifically addressed abortions paid for by the Georgia state employees health benefits plan, and Shafer ruled it germane.

Talk about baptism by fire: an abortion fight breaks out the first time you preside over the Senate.