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Show A-8 Wed/Thurs/Fri, March 18-20, 2020 The Park Record Utah passes strict new abortion Ex-Florida official rules as Legislature wraps up tweets Vail anger Herbert mum on signing abortion ultrasound bill LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers passed new regulations on abortion this year, including a measure approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature Thursday that would ban most abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. It comes as abortion opponents around the country hope the Supreme Court will reconsider the landmark ruling with new conservative justices. If the Utah measure goes into effect, it could mean felony charges for a physician or a woman who ended her own pregnancy. Also headed for GOP Gov. Gary Herbert’s desk is a requirement for abortion clinics and medical facilities to cremate or bury fetal remains. Several states are considering similar measures. Supporters say they allow PARK RECORD FILE PHOTO The sun sets behind the Utah state capitol in 2018. Lawmakers passed a host of new bills this year before adjourning, including one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation. for more dignity, but opponents argue they chip away at abortion rights. Another proposal requiring a woman be shown an ultrasound before she could get an abortion failed after all six female senators, both Republicans and Democrats, walked out in protest. Herbert, who generally opposes abortion, said it sent a message. “I think it was a loud message and one I think we, as men, ought to take hard look at. Are we listening? Are we getting all the information we need to?” he said. He didn’t say whether he would sign or veto any of the bills. Utah barred abortion after 18 weeks last year, becoming one of several states to adopt strict bans. Like the other measures it has been blocked amid litigation. Many conservatives hope one of those court cases could lead to the overturning of the 1973 case legalizing abortion. If that happens, the new measure says Utah would ban all abortions except in cases like rape and serious threat to the health of the mother. Supporters say it would prepare the state to end elective abortions if the legal landscape changes. “This bill is meant to discourage the taking of a human life,” said Republican Rep. Karianne Lisonbee. Democratic Rep. Suzanne Harrison argued that it would only make it more difficult to get a safe abortion. “This extreme bill will hurt women,” she said. “To be clear, women will die.” The measure regulating fetal remains, meanwhile, comes after the Supreme Court upheld a similar Indiana law signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence. The Utah requirements also apply to miscarriages at medical facilities. Supporters say they create space if people need to grieve, but opponents say the measures stigmatize abortion and can make it harder to provide the procedure. Redistricting, ed funding tweaked Session ended just before coronavirus response picked up LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has wrapped up its work for the year, capping off a session that saw major changes to the state’s polygamy statute, a revision of a voter-approved redistricting law and a compromise on education funding. The 45-day meeting ended late Thursday in the shadow of the new coronavirus, which caused widespread cancellations but SHO didn’t cause major disruptions in legislative business. Lawmakers dedicated an extra $24 million to help senior residents weather the virus. The polygamy revisions now in front of Republican Gov. Gary Herbert would mean that consenting adults in multiple marriages would not face the threat of jail time. The practice, which has persisted for more than a century, is now a felony. While lawmakers eased restrictions on polygamy, they voted to put new ones on pornography by requiring warning labels on obscene materials that come into the state. They also approved new requirements for abortion clinics and other medical providers to bury or cremate fetal remains, sending the measure to the governor. Herbert has not said whether he plans to sign the requirements into law. Meanwhile, a voter-approved measure aimed at curbing gerrymandering, a process of manipulating voting districts unfairly to gain an advantage, will get some changes. The revisions would drop requirements that the GOP-dominated Legislature take an up-ordown vote on redistricting maps developed by an independent commission and provide a formal explanation if it chooses not to adopt them. While some worry those changes create less transparency, supporters of the original law have said the compromise keeps important steps intact. Another compromise on education funding is making its way quickly through the Legislature. It would change a provision of the Utah Constitution that requires income tax revenue be used for education. Lawmakers say the change is needed to bolster a faltering sales tax base, and the deal would also create more stability for education funding. Still, critics worry that allowing income taxes to be used for children’s health care and the disabled could ultimately undermine education spending in a state where it’s a chronic concern. Since there’s a constitutional change involved, the proposal will have to go before the voters in November before it goes fully into effect. Ski vacation was ‘destroyed;’ 5 have died so far in state ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER — Colorado’s governor and a state lawmaker criticized a former Florida lieutenant governor who complained that his vacation was ruined when Vail closed its ski resort due to concerns about the coronavirus. Former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp tweeted his displeasure Saturday after industry giants Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company said they would close dozens of North America’s most wellknown resorts, including the iconic Vail resort in Colorado. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also ordered the state’s downhill resorts to close for a week to mitigate the virus’s spread. “Thank you for making this announcement as we are driving in to Vail,” Kottkamp tweeted after Vail announced its closure. “Came all the way from Florida only to have our family’s vacation destroyed.” The Denver Post reports that Polis and Democratic state Sen. Kerry Donovan were quick to react. “Thank you for your deep concerns regarding the health of our residents in the face of a global pandemic, as well as your heartfelt sympathy for the difficulties faced by those who work in the ski industry and hospitality,” Polis said. Donovan, whose district includes Vail, said, “We should be commending (Vail’s decision), not complaining. But, please keep thinking of yourself.” Sage Naumann, spokesman for Colorado Senate Republicans, joined in Sunday. “`Came all the way from Florida only to realize Colorado is actually stepping up to prevent the spread of a global pandemic,”’ Naumann tweeted. “Fixed it for you, Lieutenant Governor. Colorado is united in beating this.” Kottkamp said Sunday he had “no quarrel” with Vail’s decision. But he criticized the resort for insisting it was open for business until it suddenly announced otherwise — something he said was “very unfair to thousands of visitors to the state.” Had Vail Resorts given advance notice “before their closure, as was done by Disney World and Universal Studios in my home state, lots of heartaches, inconvenience, and financial loss could have been avoided,” Kottkamp said in an email to The Associated Press. Kottkamp, an attorney, was lieutenant governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. The Republican also served in that state’s House of Representatives. Later Sunday, Colorado health authorities urged residents of and visitors to four counties in Ski Country over the past week to limit their contact with others and watch for virus symptoms that include cough, fever and shortness of breath. The Department of Public Health and Environment said the region is seeing “high rates of community transition” of the virus. Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties saw at least 40 of the state’s 131 cases by mid-day Sunday, the department said. The region includes Vail, Aspen and other ski resorts. Polis has banned public gatherings of more than 250 people and taken other measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has deemed a pandemic. The disease for most people causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause more severe illness. The vast majority recover. In the U.S., at least 61 people have died, including one in Colorado. Other regional ski resorts suspended operations, including Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, Brighton, Solitude, Alta and Snowbird in Utah and Big Sky in Montana. Wyoming’s Jackson Hole closed for the season, as did Montana’s Whitefish Mountain Resort and Utah’s Snowbasin. W O N S L P DEA 40-50 30-50 OUTERWEAR Some Restrictions May Apply ALL SKIS & BINDINGS PARK CITY DEER VALLEY 1284 Lowell Ave. (Resort Ctr) Park City, UT 84060 (435) 649 - 8430 The Chateaux at Silver Lake 7815 Royal Street East (435) 615-0075 |