MONDAY, April 10, 2006
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met Monday afternoon, and heard several bills of importance on a wide range on issues.
Sponsored by Senator Bill Alter, SB 1250 addresses many issues regarding illegal aliens. From admission to school programs, colleges and government assistance; SB 1250 goes a long way to encourage people to enter our state legally.
Also on the docket was HB 1026, which is some clean up legislation for the funeral protest law passed earlier this year. The colorful testimony in opposition to HB 1026 was dominated by the funeral protesters themselves (what a reminder for why legislation like this is necessary).
Representative Mike McGhee introduced HB 1617; which would help protect landowners from frivolous lawsuits. HB 1617 promotes personal responsibility; while setting the law on the homeowners side. When people (who you may, or may not have invited onto your property) come onto your land and engages in “recreational” activities, and hurt themselves; you could be held liable for their actions. HB 1617 helps narrow this loophole.
TUESDAY, April 11, 2006
HCS HB 1347 was voted out of the House Rules Committee, and is now on its way to the House floor. Sponsored by Representative Peter Meyers, HCS HB 1347 requires students at public institutions of higher learning to take American history and literature courses (despite political correctness).
The Rules Committee also passed out HB 1864 (sponsored by Representative Jerry Nolte), which prohibits the admission of illegal aliens to colleges.
The Senate Pensions, Veterans� Affairs and General Laws Committee voted out two House Bills with veterans in mind. HB 1787, Sponsored by Representative Jack Jackson, would create the �Guard at Home� program, which would assist the families of deployed National Guard members.
Representative Joe Smith has HB 978 which establishes the �Vietnam Was Medallion Program�, as well as the �Vietnam War Veteran�s Recognition Award Fund�.
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2006
Eminent Domain
The House dedicated virtually the entire day to debate over House Bill 1944. HB 1944, which was introduced by Representative Steve Hobbs; tightens the reins on eminent domain abuses.
The Senate also dedicated most of its time debating legislation that addresses Tax Increment Financing abuse.
THURSDAY, April 13, 2006
HB 2087 was introduced in the House Healthcare Policies committee. Sponsored by Representative Belinda Harris, HB 2087 would create the crime of procuring human eggs by coercion, or payment. This legislation would have absolutely no impact on couples wanting to use in-vetero fertilization. Rather the bill is directly targeting the billion dollar biotech companies who are planning to do major cloning research (otherwise called SCNT) in our state. They are quick to mention that they don�t need sperm for their experiments, but what they do need is hundreds of thousands of eggs; just to get started.
As demonstrated in North Korea; payments and coercion seem to go hand in hand with this type of experimentation. But we don�t need to wait to address this abuse� it�s already here. Adds in student newspapers, e-mails and direct mail pieces are soliciting our daughters and grand-daughters. Offering top dollar for taking some drugs (used to make the young women �super ovulate�, release many eggs at one time so they get 3-4 times as many eggs as they normally would; whose side effects include sterility, birth defects, cancer, kidney failure, and sudden death � to name a few), and selling their eggs. Tempting these young people to gamble with their lives and futures; over a check to help with student loans is nothing less that exploitation. And this abuse must come to an end.
The House third read and passed Representative Allen Icets� Pregnancy Recourse Center tax credit bill, sending it over to the Senate; and sending it one step closer to final passage.
HJR 43 sponsored by Mike Dethrow, proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority for voter approval of initiative proposals relating to harvesting bird, game, wildlife, and forestry resources. This House Joint Resolution was drafted to protect hunting, fishing and using our other God given resources.