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Show THE ZEPHYRAPRIL 1991 dispute. This seems to satisfy Myrin and Evans and they say that they will cease to oppose the bill. It Is now 1 1 p.m., with only one hour left for the bill to pass the Senate, with a new amendment creating the Outreach Subcommittee. It must also ss the House. There Is great commotion In the halls. Hundreds of candle waving Pro Choice advocates have bill. They clog the halls and call out legislators. The come to protest the Senators and Representatives are making themselves scarce. The entire legislative process comes almost to a halt I hear the Fire Marshall Is close to hysteria. What could possibly bum among all this marble I wonder. I squeeze through the Senate door. We have been Invited onto the floor. I stand by Sen. Bunnell from Price. He becomes Increasingly supportive of the bill, but repeatedly states, lt will never get through In time." He tells me that In the old days, the Senators would place a towel over the clock, blocking off midnight That Is no longer legal, ruled the Utah Supreme Court The minutes tick by, 11:30, 11:40. Our bill Is far down on the list Sen. Beattie moves that our bill be moved further to the top. It passes. My hands begin to shake. It Is 1 1 :45. I listen to discussion of two more bills, one for the handicapped, one for baby food (baby food?). Fifteen minutes left In the session. "You wont make It," repeats Bunnell. I think he Is sorry. Finally at 1 1 :50 Senators Beattie and Leavitt are allowed to Introduce the bill. There Is no discussion and the vote begins. By 11:55 the bill has unanimously passed the Senate! "Youll never get It through the House, says Bunnell, as I run out the door. "Well give It our best shot, I reply, grinning. Enid gets the bill recorded In the Senate and runs to the House with a copy In her I hand. grab David Adams' arm and we run Into the House. I give him my turquoise necklace to wear. "This Is for luck, I explain. We are all on the floor of the House, Jean, Bonnie, Dora, Harry, Lavlna and Marilyn. Now I can see where Daves position Is so Important He has greased the wheels and gets Immediate recognition from Speaker Moody. The recorder reads the bill with lightning speed. There Is no discussion. The clock ticks away relentlessly. The electronic board flashes an Incorrect bill number. re-pa- anti-aborti- on BREAKFAST PAGE 25 "Can we vote on a wrong number? asks one Representative. "Yes! shouts the Speaker. "Its legal, VOTE! "Adams" - "Yes!" "Alexander - "Yes" Anderson" - "Yes" I cant control myself and hear a "yes" coming out of my mouth. The bill passes the House at 11:59:30, ust thirty seconds before midnight Rep. Evans turns to me with a big hug. Wildly excited, In a kind of daze, we all meet outside In the hall, hugging, shaking hands. Dave Adams comes out grinning his lopsided smile. We hug him too. With 30 seconds to go, with an Impossible coalition, with compromise and concern, HB 394 passed and will usher In a new era of state-trib- al cooperation. time. I Enid Green was ubllant and exhausted. "There Is one thing that I really need, I stated. "Whats that? "An excuse for missing two weeks of school. "No problem, she answered and ran down the stairs to her office. With the Governors shiny seal on my school excuse, I went upstairs for the last found David Adams leaning on the railing. "I guess I wont work against you in the next election. "What? Repeat that, he said, handing back my turquoise necklace. "I wont work as hard against your reelectlon. "As hard? he repeated, laughing. "Okay, I said. "I might even support you. Nancy Shanaman lives In Tsalle, Arizona, and studies at Navajo Community College. She was the legislative assistant for Mr. Maryboy In Utah. She has written for High Country News. NEO. Salt Lake City Magazine, and other publications on Indian-relatissues. ed LUNCH DINNER AMERICAN FINE MEXICAN & MEALS A. SINCE 1981 574 N. MAIN MOAB, 801 259-631- 9 state liquor license UTAH now open at 6 am closed when I'm tired of making tacos |
