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April 6, 2011 in Idaho
Idaho House passes abortion bill
Unchallenged Nebraska law serves as model for measure
BOISE – The Idaho House passed far-reaching anti-abortion legislation Tuesday with backers invoking “the hand of the Almighty” and saying they’re prepared to defend the new law in court.
Senate Bill 1165 bans abortion after 20 weeks on grounds of fetal pain. It includes no exceptions for rape, incest, severe fetal abnormality or the mental or psychological health of the mother. Only when the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life or physical health could a post-20-week abortion be performed.
“Is not the child of that rape or incest also a victim?” asked Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton. “It didn’t ask to be here. It was here under violent circumstances perhaps, but that was through no fault of its own.”
The Idaho legislation is patterned after a Nebraska law passed last year and not yet challenged in court. Similar bills have been proposed in a dozen states this year. Kansas passed one last week, which is awaiting action by the governor there.
The Idaho bill’s House sponsor, state Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, told legislators that the “hand of the Almighty” was at work. “His ways are higher than our ways,” Crane said. “He has the ability to take difficult, tragic, horrific circumstances and then turn them into wonderful examples.”
State Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said the bill would force parents of infants with severe deformities who won’t survive to carry the pregnancy to term, rather than letting them decide how to react to the situation on their own. “These diagnoses were made right at about 20 weeks,” said Rusche, a pediatrician who has handled three such cases. “To knowingly force someone to carry a baby to term when they know it’s not going to survive I think is cruel.”
The bill passed the House on a 54-14 vote and now heads to the governor’s desk. It includes provisions for a legal defense fund that could accept donations.
Two legal opinions from the Idaho attorney general said the bill is unconstitutional because it violates the Roe v. Wade decision regarding state restrictions on abortions prior to the point of fetal viability.
Idaho spent nearly three-quarters of a million dollars defending unconstitutional anti-abortion state legislation passed in the 1990s, including $380,000 in attorney fees the state was ordered to pay in 2007 to Planned Parenthood of Idaho after that group challenged unconstitutional provisions in a 2005 abortion parental consent law.
All 13 of the Idaho House’s Democrats voted against the bill; they were joined by one Republican, Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow.
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oneanddone on April 06 at 3:01 a.m.
I lean to the right on this issue, way right, but spending scarce state funds to defend a law that ignores settled law is only about ideology. I use to consider myself part of the GOP but haven’t for some time. Any group that caters to wealthy businesses, and “caters” is being kind, to the exclusion of the electorate only gets my scorn and disgust. Not that it matters much in Idaho, where the political process is broken and corrupt.
maria on April 06 at 3:05 a.m.
Oh, goody! More inbreds on the streets of Ideeho!
maria on April 06 at 3:46 a.m.
Google “inbreeding results in humans”, click on images…then tell me it’s fair to bring these results into the world.
Diana on April 06 at 5:02 a.m.
Rep. Crane of the Idaho Clown House said, “He has the ability to take difficult, tragic, horrific circumstances and then turn them into wonderful examples.”
Congratulations, women of Idaho. Your personal decisions are now being made by politicians who couldn’t care less about you or your difficult, tragic and horrific circumstances. You are officially chattel and incubators.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on April 06 at 5:26 a.m.
In my life, with some dear friends and many patients that have had the experience of choosing an abortion because of the circumstances in their life not one of them has escaped suffering with that decision for the rest of their life. The women friends and patients I have known who have chosen to adopt out the children have also not escaped suffering the rest of their lives.
Either decision is traumatic and difficult beyond anyone who has not been through it to have any real understanding. There is no male of the species that can have any real insight into the complexities and feelings involved and men should NOT be making legislative efforts to invade the privacy of these decisions.
Abortion is a process that is ever present, and the key question is the safety and availability of the procedure. The choice to have one is under the law up to the pregnant woman. John
dukkandpooh on April 06 at 6:37 a.m.
ChefGus, very well said, as usual.
detroitdude on April 06 at 7:06 a.m.
Ah, it’s good to know that Republicans are “focused on the issues” and spending government money wisely.
I doubt it will really change anything, not when you can just go to neighboring states which don’t have those laws. The most disturbing part: “It includes no exceptions for rape, incest, severe fetal abnormality or the mental or psychological health of the mother.”
That being said, 20 weeks is pretty far along in a pregnancy, I would hope any woman considering an abortion would make that call WELL before 20 weeks.
Diana on April 06 at 7:08 a.m.
That’s rich coming from you, fake PhD hawken and former fetus.
If the law affected you, which it never will, I’m sure you would happily give birth to the spawn of your rapist. And if you were 12 years old and too afraid to say what your stepfather did, you’d just suck it up.
Tell me a scenario where that is not disgusting.
Believe it or not, we don’t really need paternalistic, controlling males like you and Big Government politicians telling us what is best in our situations.
Scoutster on April 06 at 7:15 a.m.
How is a legislator standing in the capitol extolling the Almighty for guiding his decision-making different from the Taliban?
Allah Akbar.
Next up: Let’s stone adulterers!
detroitdude on April 06 at 7:27 a.m.
Assuming a woman wanted an abortion due to “rape, incest, severe fetal abnormality” but it is now no longer allowed, I say the great state of Idaho should assume the financial responsibility of that child from birth until death. That may sound ridiculous, but so is this law they just passed. If they did really “care” about the unborn child they should have no problem with such an arrangement.
jessiepn on April 06 at 7:45 a.m.
Scoutster wrote: “How is a legislator standing in the capitol extolling the Almighty for guiding his decision-making different from the Taliban?”
Amen to that. And the attitude of some of these conservatives toward women seems to be indistinguishable from that of the Taliban, as well.
johnclarke on April 06 at 8:04 a.m.
Hawken, I’ve never thought much of you as a person but now you have gone and made me think less. You and your fellow religious wackos in Idaho are fringe lunatics who seek to remove women’s rights. Personally, I can’t fathom an educated woman living under your roof.
What’s next Idaho? Removing woman’s right to vote? Public stonings? Head coverings?
I am ashamed that I keep a boat in the state of repression and religious cave men. I think it’s time to move it to Washington.
mikeln on April 06 at 8:25 a.m.
This is clearly a law born out of religious views. As a male, I have very little I can say about this, it is truely a womens issue. Funny how republicans say they want limited government, then pass laws like this one. There is a word for this and we all know what it is.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on April 06 at 8:52 a.m.
Scoutster: Let’s be clear and say “adulteresses.” There are no male adulterers, only male victims of temptation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVMZoZoKT-o&feature=player_embedded
johno on April 06 at 8:53 a.m.
No one on either side of this issue is happy when an abortion is the outcome of a preganacy. But it is the most insideous form of totalitarianism to pass laws that control a woman’s body. Our Republican friends talk about “getting the government off our backs.” How about keeping the government out of our wombs. For all of you against abortion, your opposition causes you no sacrifice. Why don’t you walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk and adopt a foster child, support government funding for daycare, low-income housing, healthcare, education, and job training. Yes, these cost money and require taxes, but if we as a society showed we actually value children and take care of them as a community, there would be very few abortions. Yet all we get are more spending cuts on programs that help low-income families and more tax cuts for the rich. Greed is the great sin of our times. The economy is becoming more brutal and making it harder to raise a family!
ChefGus/ John Olsen on April 06 at 9:01 a.m.
I spend time every day with the “outcomes” of children that are born in to settings that are highly dysfunctional and usually controlled by the “Man of the House”… who all to often abuse the children of the women they have been abusing for years… the cycle of violence and destruction for children just keeps thumping along… gus
reservedparking on April 06 at 9:09 a.m.
Darn. Missed Hawken’s post before it got deleted. Sounds like it was a doozy.
hawken on April 06 at 9:10 a.m.
Clarke: Your arrogance and ego have no limits.
You can imagine how I lay awake at night fretting over your socialist, personal opinion of me. I’ve even had to resort to “sleeping pills” to get past my trauma. NOT.
Is there a cure for you demonstrated, “egomania?”
Your obsession with me is telling.
johnclarke on April 06 at 9:12 a.m.
He posted some highly objectional you tube videos, that were graphic and low even for Hawken. Thank you moderator.
eagleproducer on April 06 at 9:12 a.m.
What happened to Doctor Dopey’s post? Was Hawken’s latest version of ‘keeping their knees in close contact” finally deemed offensive?
How about a lifetime ban?
I will defend until death women’s right to autonomy, of which reproductive rights are central.
Roe v. Wade has had sweeping effects on our culture and has been identified as the source of dramatic drops in crime eighteen years and on following it’s affirmation by the SCOTUS.
I hope Idaho citizens enjoy paying the costs to defend this indefensible law.
eagleproducer on April 06 at 9:23 a.m.
Wisconsinites have shown, at the polls, what they think of the culture war tactics of the Tea Party and the austerity program of balancing budgets by busting unions of Governor Walker.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/chris-abele-milwaukee-county-executive_n_845347.html
61%-39%. That’s what happens when you anger the working class. Get used to those types of drubbings the next few election cycles. And as the Tea Party ages and mostly dies off in the next decade expect even more ascendance of progressive policies.
The empty suits have been exposed. The Tea Party is really about keeping us divided using culture war tactics so you’ll be distracted as they transfer even more national treasure to the most wealthy.
Sounds like GOP 101 for the last forty years to me.
We are all “Wisconsinites” now.
Diana on April 06 at 9:24 a.m.
The Idaho bill’s House sponsor, state Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, told legislators that the “hand of the Almighty” was at work. No doubt it was one of the voices in his head.
hawken doesn’t like JohnClarke’s socialist opinion of him. “Your arrogance and ego have no limits.”
No, hawken. the limitless arrogance and ego come in when people like you, who will never know the trauma of rape or carrying a fetus with horrific anomalies, thinking that it’s even remotely okay to push your religion and teabagger agenda on others.
If you were pregnant as a result of sexual violence, I can only imagine how fast you’d be at your doctor’s door.
johnclarke on April 06 at 9:27 a.m.
If I were moderator for a day, I’d be saying it’s time to ban Hawken.
Listen folks, we’d all love to meet Hawken - but he will stay hidden behind his keyboard like most cowards. That is the nature of things.
Thanks for the links eagle. I have the same view the Tea/Taliban party is not going to be around long. I know it’s a big mistake to make women angry. Wait and watch.
hawken on April 06 at 9:30 a.m.
Censorship is standard technique when one can’t deal with the logic of the argument. Clarke: Looks like you have some allies among the SAR.
Diana on April 06 at 9:35 a.m.
Excellent way to get banned. Show the moderators that you’re like a rebellious teenager and mock them!
Way to go, hawken. See ya.
eagleproducer on April 06 at 9:37 a.m.
Answer the question fake Ph.D…
What “logic” are you pointing to? That you think it’s okay for you and the state to make decisions for women that should remain private and between only them and their medical care provider(s).
Barefoot and pregnant is the Idaho version of the Burkha. Once they own your womb how can any other right/freedom be considered sacrosanct?
hawken on April 06 at 9:39 a.m.
Some of the SAR moderators are clearly biased, opposing the facts and opinions that don’t line up with their own.
Depends on the day and shift schedule.
hawken on April 06 at 9:44 a.m.
Eagle; Clearly you didn’t watch the “instructional videos,” done by learned, profession medical doctors, I posted, once deleted by the SAR and then posted again by me.
Anyway, you might want to see them while they are available, before they get deleted again by the “biased” monitor who is on duty.
Is it un-acceptable to criticize the SAR? I guess I will soon get an answer to that question.
Diana on April 06 at 9:46 a.m.
“Some of the SAR moderators are clearly biased, opposing the facts and opinions that don’t line up with their own.”
Bagger, please. This is a privately owned website and it’s YOU who is violating the terms, not them.
woamike on April 06 at 9:48 a.m.
eagleproducer says this to another poster:
“I hate your guts and would love to meet you in person to show what a healthy middle-aged liberal can still muster physically.”
This is the guy who wants people banned for life for words they write yet has no problem threatening physical violence against them.
This is acceptable behavior?
hawken on April 06 at 9:52 a.m.
“Please keep it civil. Don’t post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening,,,,”
All of the above from this string alone, on this day, withing the last few hours.
1- maria on April 06 at 3:05 a.m.
Oh, goody! More inbreds on the streets of Ideeho!
2- Diana on April 06 at 7:08 a.m.
If the law affected you, which it never will, I’m sure you would happily give birth to the spawn of your rapist.
3-eagleproducer on April 06 at 9:15 a.m.
I hate your guts and would love to meet you in person to show what a healthy middle-aged liberal can still muster physically.
4-johnclarke on April 06 at 9:27 a.m.
Listen folks, we’d all love to meet Hawken - but he will stay hidden behind his keyboard like most cowards.
The SAR policy is enforced or not enforced based upon the bias of the staff. Plain and simple. All of the above are still there.
hawken on April 06 at 10:00 a.m.
Just consider me a modern day Dietrich Bonhoeffer on a “local scale.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer
He was literally hung. My hanging by the SAR would only be a “high-tech” hanging.
______________________________
“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
ChefGus/ John Olsen on April 06 at 10:02 a.m.
Me thinks this string needs to be closed..or have some “timeouts” issued … john
hawken on April 06 at 10:08 a.m.
Abortionist spout their lofty (in their own mind), fallacious, arguments for aborting unborn children,,, then censor the horrific reality of the abortion as presented by Medical doctors, and press to censor those like me who respond with disgust and rejection of the American holocaust.