Alabama House of Representatives
Credit: Montgomery Advertiser

A state representative from Birmingham filed a bill Thursday that would require Alabama men to get a vasectomy once they reach 50 years old or father three children, “whichever comes first.”

The legislation by state Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, says that a man will have to pay for the vasectomy “at his own expense.”

Hollis said the bill is a response to last year’s abortion bill that passed the legislature and included a near-total ban on abortion.

“The vasectomy bill is to help with the reproductive system, and yes, it is to neutralize the abortion ban bill … it always takes two to tango,” she said. “We can’t put all the responsibility on women. Men need to be responsible also.”

Hollis explained that she is “both” pro-life and pro-choice.

“I do not believe that women should use abortion as a birth control, but I do believe that if a women […]