Eye On Boise

‘Conscience’ bill clears committee, 6-3

Feb. 22, 2010 9:36 a.m. • 9 comments

The Senate State Affairs Committee has voted 6-3 to pass SB 1353, the “conscience” bill, and send it to the full Senate with a recommendation that it “do pass.” “This legislation prohibits nothing, it does allow professionals to opt out of something they don’t want to do,” said Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, who made the motion to approve the bill. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said the long hearing on the bill pointed up some potential legal problems, especially concerning the impact of the measure on Idaho employers. “We may be creating greater challenges to employers, and that’s an area that I think we may as a Legislature have to look at adjusting as time goes by,” Davis said. But he said he’d support the bill, and noted that business groups didn’t turn out to testify against it.

Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, said, “We should answer those questions before we take the bold step of putting something into the code and exposing ourselves and our employers to what could be substantial litigation on an issue.” She added that she saw the bill as “a very ill-timed move” because of the cost to the state of defending it in court, when Idaho is “facing unprecedented budget crisis.” Those voting in favor of the bill were Sens. Fulcher, Davis, McKague, Pearce, Darrington and Geddes. Those voting against were Sens. Kelly, Stegner and Stennett.

Nine comments on this post so far. Add yours!

WildWest on February 22 at 9:45 a.m.
Social conservative Idaho republicans, who strongly support conscience exemptions for health care professionals, know they can’t make abortion illegal, so they’ll make it impossible.

This legislation is board and not defined it could be exercised in the context of other medical procedures, which a given employee may objected on moral or religious grounds: blood transfusions & surgery in general opposed by Jehovah’s Witnesses, anesthesia, vaccinations, removal of ovaries or uterus, stem cell research, and providing terminal sedation to dying patients.

This is not about someone faith this is about medical ethics and the duties of health care workers, now being decided by moral activist’s not medical boards.

It tells everyday Idahoans that the conservative Idaho legislature could listen to medical professionals & medial academics until there blue in the face and they are not going to hear them!

They are hell bent on legislating social values that reflect there extreme faith.

Everyday Idahoans are in danger of losing our freedom of choice and becoming victims of the intolerant extremist christian driven republican governance with there buds the mormon’s hiding in the shadows.

Conservatives are hypocritical fascists.

Kelly is weak and worthless Democrat.!
scrappy_doo on February 22 at 11:09 a.m.
WildWest, I couldn’t have said it better myself. The hypocrisy of conservative Idaho is blatant. And it terrifies me every time something like this happens because our state sits back and does nothing. I’ve always known Idaho to be conservative, but I always thought it was more about small government and big personal freedoms. Have we really come to a place in time where everything comes down to pushing agendas and beliefs over the choices and rights of the individual? It appears so…it’s a sad day.
DCR on February 22 at 11:27 a.m.
If conservatives want to avoid the label of hypocrite, they need to stay consistent - keep the government out of my boardroom, my gun room, my bedroom and my womb. End of story.
palousian on February 22 at 11:49 a.m.
wildwest: I was with you right up to your last sentence on Sen Kelly. How you made the leap from Betsy’s quote to your statement is beyond me. I suspect there are other issues unspoken.
Sisyphus on February 22 at 12:10 p.m.
Agreed Palousian. Senator Kelly is doing an excellent job representing her constituents against an entrenched monolithic majority.
DannyHaszard on February 22 at 1:06 p.m.
Jehovah’s Witnesses blood transfusion confusion

Simple fact-. Bloodless surgeries are great if they can be elective.1/3rd of all trauma deaths are from blood loss. Jehovah’s Witnesses children die every year worldwide due to blood transfusion ban.Rank & file Jehovah’s Witness are indoctrinated to be scared to death of blood

FYI 1) JW’s DO USE many parts aka ‘fractions’ aka components of blood,so if it’s ‘sacred’ to God why the hypocritical contradiction flip-flop?

2) They USE blood collections that are donated by Red Cross and others but don’t donate back,more hypocrisy.

. The Watchtower society will not allow a JW to bank their own blood

http://prlog.org/10531550
JJ2014 on February 23 at 8:17 a.m.
Both sides of this issue could learn much about the REAL WORLD OUTCOMES from what has already been litigated on similar issues.

The following website summarizes over 500 Jehovah’s Witnesses Employment related COURT CASES, etc, including nearly 100 MEDICAL COURT CASES in which JW Employees refused blood transfusions, and/or other cases involving Worker’s Comp, medical, health, and disability issues:
�
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH’S WITNESS EMPLOYEES
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jwemployees.bravehost.com
�

The following website summarizes 900 court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah’s Witness Parents, including 400 cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:
�
DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
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jwdivorces.bravehost.com
Watchdog on February 23 at 12:31 p.m.
Promoting propaganda and dishonest websites like Cowardlyhost er…bravehost is not beneficial to the argument and anyone who takes advice from a pervert like Danny Haphaszard needs to have themeselves checked!

Conscience matters can’t be legislated or dictated…Who will be the conscience police on any issue. Do you want a surgeon working on you or your family that doesn’t want to be there? Are you going to force him or her to perform an abortion or a bloodtransfusion if the medical professional doesn’t want to do it based on his or her faith? Come on!! Get with reality.
I want to have medical services provided by professionals that are OK with my healthcare decisions and will fulfull my wishes.

My relationship with GOD is more important that the temporary fix provided by a doctor. You can’t legislate morality and Conscience!
JenniferWatson on February 24 at 1:17 a.m.
“Watchdog’s” post is abusive personal attack by a Jehovah’s Witnesses troll who makes no defense of the Watchtower toxic dogma but stalks those who expose this JW cult.

It’s amazing that you Jehovah people go door to door to convert others with this kind of arrogant disposition.

Have you no humility? What would Jesus do?