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Show Legislators Pass Abortion Buck to Courts Editors Note: Christopher Madding set out to report on the abortion bill at the Utah State legislature. While reporting the story, Madding felt that the democratic process had been seriously compromised. He therefore has submitted an eyewitness opinion piece . by Christopher E. Madding Forum photo editor The passing of Senate bill 23, Abortion Limitation, was a naive act with senators and representatives running through the democratic process, ignoring constitutional rights of the people, and making a moral decision for the masses. I spent the entire week following S.B. 23 as the Senate threw it through both houses like a rock through a window, making a loud crash. The Senate and House rushed the bill through with an obvious disregard toward activists. AsSusanne opinions of Millsaps of Utah National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) said, Womens lives are too important to be swept under the carpet ...youre puttinglife in the hands of coat g butchers and quacks. Standing Committee Chairman Joseph M. Moody gave floor time to speakers allowing them to make their statements, but was apparently preoccupied and didnt care about their Pro-Choi- ce hanger-wieldin- Pro-Choi- ce views. When senators and representatives attempted to argue the issue or amend the bill, they were quickly put back in their seats. Representative Paula F. Julander, the only nurse in the legislature, spoke of one horror story in volving a mother of three coming into the emergency room suffering from extensive bleeding due to an illegal abortion, from which she eventually died. J. M. Moody asked her to speed it up: Were running out of time. President of the Senate, Arnold Christenson, and speaker of the House, H. Craig Moody, had the same comment for the majority of arguments: That is not germane to the issue. Senator George Mantes was quoted by the Sal t Lake Tribune as saying, I would love to pass this bill al ongand ge t back to the business of runni ng the state. Rebecca Elliott of the Utah National Organization for Women said, I am glad to be here, especially since this bill was planned on being passed through without , democratic process. Apparently, the House legislature did not hear her voice. When I asked first-terSenator Millie M. Peterson if she thought that the speed the bill passed the Senate showed a lack ofthe democratic process, she said, Yes, new members of both houses needed time to evaluate pros and cons on both sides of of the issue. S.B. 23 opened in Standing Committee Monday Jan. 21 and was signed as a law by m Gov. Norman Bangerter on Friday Jan. 25. The only change that took place was the amending of the first tier, which was more restrictive than the second, such as not allowing a down syndrome fetus to be aborted. It is clear to me that for a bill to have seven readings, two of which involved public sessions, in one week, and be signed by the governor as a law in the same week, that only the bare minimum of the democratic process was applied. Granted, task force meetings were hel d throughout the state over the last nine months, gaining public opinion. But how much of this opinion was considered when the bill was drafted and then passed as law? Karrie Galloway, executive director of Planned Parenthood, said, I have attended all task force meetings and I am appalled at what I have heard. It seems to me that there are two different meetings going on . .. you only hear what you want to hear. By this, Galloway meant that it didnt appear the full meeting was taken in by the Senate represevtatives, they only took in what agreed with their own views. The latest poll on this issue shows 63 percentof the population in favor ofkeeping the abortion law as it was before Jan. 25. Millsaps said, You cannot tell me' that the voice of the people has been heard. As stated in the Preamble to our Constitution of the United States, We the people of the United States proclaim to the world that our government belongs to the people, is run by the people, and exists for the good of the people. With the passing Senate bill 23, the Abortion Limitation Law, it is clear that the government ofUtah does not belong to the people, nor is it run by the people. If it were, S.B. 23 never would have become law. As far as for the good ofthe people, Making abortions illegal will not stop abortions it will only stop safe and legal abortions, as stated by Julander. Sharon Smith of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a private interview, Law makers of this state have shown ignorance to their view of a womans ability to make choices regarding her own reproductive system. The issue of abortion is a moral concern and with the passing of S.B. 23, the Utah State Government is attempting to take control over our freedom of choice. What makes the state legislature think they have the right to make moral decisions for the people? They apparently believe that they have the right to guide our lives, and to make choices for us that will affect the rest of our lives. What do Utah legislators expect to gain by making the abortion limitation bill a law? Do they expect to gain respect by becoming moral leaders? By becoming the moral leader they push abortion from the hospitals and clinics to the filth of the Continued on Page 7 Column 1 Clowns in Suits Get Lost on Way to Circus, Show Up at the Legislature bn Capitol Hill by Jeff Burrows Forum staff writer There was the feeling of busied excitement that comes with the beginning of a new year; you could feel the electricity building as the buzzer sounded and each desk was quickly and quietly filled. One young man was called on to lead the Pledge of Allegiance as his peers simultaneously repeated it. The roll was called and the new people were reminded how to procede. The days agenda had begun. Already there were those with questions and comments raising their hands eagerly. Others, though, seemed to doze into the House chamber. one point it seemed as though the blind As the last bit of echo finally subsided, were leading the blind, as the House Mr. Speaker smugly announced, I wont members searched for the precise wording hit that one anymore. I thought he showed for a joint resolution with the Senate. This great wisdom and judgment, since this was particular resolution allowed the House to the second time he had tried to destroy put their names, along with the Senates, everyones hearing. As I was sitting there on a resolution to honor those participating trying to test my hearing, it was announced in Desert Shield. It was obvious that the new electronic console had a glitch. those who had mastered these to me that proceedings A couple of technicians furiously began to a year had subsequently forgotten them. tear the thing apart. In my opinion, the Mr. Speaker was ruling the Desert Shield glitch was sitting behind the console hoping motion out of order, having motions denied for warp speed. and left, and then was corrected by right I continued to watch the day unfold. At other House members. I continued watching curiously and wondered why I had never taken the time to come up before and see this amusing performance. I had heard people comment, when my hearing was 100 percent, You ought to watch out for those clowns on the hill. I never knew. Maybe it was a literal translation and all this time I have been passing up some great comedy. I was suddenly grateful for bills and resolutions like the adoption of a state pet rock and resolutions honoring Chase Peterson, etc. Hopefully, when the importantissues arise, they will have their act together. into a premature nap time. If this sounds a lot like the first day of school, well for many it was just that their first day. It was the setting for the call to order of the 49th general session of the Utah House of Representatives. Sitting in the House gallery, my eyes focused on the details and happenings of those on stage, our House members. At times, I couldnt tell if the events reminded me ofthe first day of school or a scene out of a Laurel and Hardy movie. I observed the fumbling and bumbling of the speaker of the House with his new toy, an electronic roll call and public address board which was supposed to make the house run smoother and easier. Smoother and easier, however, was not the forecast for this day. Mr. Speaker was constantly pushing buttons right and left on his new console hoping for something to happen. This reminded me of a scene out of an old Star Trek movie, where Captain Kirk told Sulu to take the Enterprise into warp speed, and Sulu hammered furiously on the control panel hoping to accommodate his captain.Just as I thought Mr. Speaker might successfully take us into warp speed and the console might be of a real value, he hit a button that sent an noise - ear-pierci- ng Page 4 Forum February 5, 1991 Issue 15 |