Feb 12
HB235–ABORTION LAW REVISIONS
2007 at 4:40 pm | posted by Rep. Craig Frank 4 comments
“(Utah) prides itself in protecting its children,” said Rep Paul Ray, during his presentation on the floor of the House of Representatives. Speaking to the “Abortion Bill” HB235, Rep Ray promotes the need for the state to make a stand and to put our money where our mouth is. The potential cost to Utah to defend this law some have estimated at nearly $2.5 million.
Rep. Kerry Gibson proposed an amendment (Amendment #1) that moves past the current allowance of abortion in the case of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, and to avert a woman’s death or severe health risk. It allows a provision for abortion to occur if the unborn child has a terminal condition that would not allow the child to live past a 24 hour period after delivery of the child.
Rep. Steve Urquhart’s substitute motion (to adopt 2nd Substitute HB235) reinstates the “trigger” provision in the original Rep. Paul Ray bill. The “trigger” provides that if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade we as a state are right there at the front of the line to fight the fight. We would NOT proactively move toward a lawsuit and effectively THROW THE FIRST PUNCH.
Motion to substitute Rep. Urquhart’s new bill passed 51-23-1.
Rep Eric Hutchings moved an amendment to strike certain portions of the 2nd Substitute bill, creating a “zero fiscal note bill.” Rep Paul Ray, the bill’s sponsor, supported the motion to amend. Rep Steve Urquhart opposed the motion. Motion failed.
Rep Steve Sandstrom stood to voice his concerns about the current “trigger” bill–but would vote for it.
The final vote 62-12-1 . Click HERE for Final Vote.
February 12th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
If this bill is inevitably going to “trigger” lawsuits, and the anticipated cost is $4 million, then wouldn’t it be prudent to allocate that $4 million now?
What assurances do I, as a taxpayer, have that there is even a remote possibility that the well established abortion rulings, which extend far beyond Roe v. Wade, will be overturned? How do I know that this $4 million won’t be wasted tilting at windmills or spitting in the wind?
February 12th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
[...] Utah County Republican Representative Craig Frank, updates HB 235, which will ban abortions an inevitably trigger costly lawsuits. The hope of supporting legislators is that the law will trigger lawsuits that will in turn reverse years of pro-choice court decisions. [...]
February 13th, 2007 at 12:46 am
I agree with Tom. Why must we try to fix what isn\’t broken? The ability to amend the bill, while better than the original effort, still leaves me with a bad taste. Who likes to choose between the lesser of two evils?
It would have been best to leave this alone. If we really want to \”protect our children\”, let\’s provide decent health, dental and vision services to the poor; let\’s educate the ones we have.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Some perspective on relative costs and priorities:
Utah has spent more than $4 million fighting a high level nuclear waste repository in Skull Valley along with over $1 billion in income and wages that would come with it.
No one has been killed, ever, in America in connection with transporting or storing civilian nuclear waste, (by radiation exposure). No one has been killed by radiation at a nuclear generating station, either.
Abortions have taken the lives of tens of millions of unborn children!