House votes 25-14 to censure Rep. Eastman over abortion statement

A motion to censure Alaska Representative David Eastman (R-Wasilla) was approved by a vote of 24-14 Wednesday evening. Eastman is the first member of the House to be censured in state history.

According to a press release by the House Majority Coalition, the censure “puts the Alaska House of Representatives on record as finding that Rep. Eastman’s conduct brings the House into dishonor and disrepute.”

“Today’s censure motion is in direct response to comments from Rep. Eastman claiming that some women with limited healthcare options purposely get pregnant so they can subsequently choose to get an abortion in order to obtain a state-funded trip to Alaska’s urban centers or Seattle,” the press release explained.

Representative Ivy Spohnholz of Anchorage made the motion to censure Representative David Eastman this afternoon, following recent comments from Representative Eastman claiming Alaska women get abortions just so they can get medicaid funded trips to Anchorage or Seattle.

Eastman made those comments to the Associated Press last week, after he successfully lobbied to amend a resolution to establish abortion as the "ultimate form of child abuse."

Spohnholz noted Eastman offered no evidence for the claim and has not apologized.

But Eastman did offer an apology today to the House. Eastman acknowledged his inexperience and says he hopes to learn how to better approach these issues, in the future.

Numerous representatives spoke about why he should, or should not, be censured.

Never before has a member in the House been censured.