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PINE BLUFFS — Wyoming’s 59th Legislature convened in Cheyenne on Tuesday, January 9th. Happily, all its members, Republican and Democrat, found their way to the Capitol on that chilly morning, where approximately 500 bills awaited their attention. In the mix are several of special concern to pro-lifers.
Perhaps most important is House Bill 144. Labeled “A Woman’s Right to Know,” its sponsors are Representatives Bob Brechtel (R-Natrona), “Pete” Anderson (R-Laramie), Ed Buchanan (R-Goshen), Kathleen Davison (R-Sublette/Lincoln/Sweetwater), newly elected Amy Edmonds (R-Laramie), Steve Harshman (R-Natrona), Gerry Iekel (R-Sheridan), Owen Peterson (R-Uinta), and Mark Semlek (R-Crook). Senate sponsors are Kit Jennings (R-Natrona) and Curt Meier (R-Goshen). This bill, assigned to the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Ed Buchanan, a co-sponsor, was set for hearing on Thursday, January 25th. After a day-long session, it passed the Committee on a hair-raising 5-4 vote.
HB 68, Methamphetamine Endangering Children Before birth, is sponsored by House member Elaine Harvey (R-Big Horn/Park), who had introduced it last year only to see it fail because of the more stringent requirements of a budget session. Additional House sponsors are Keith Gingery (R-Teton), Marty Martin (D-Sweetwater), and Kevin White (R-Albany). Senatorial sponsors are Senate Vice-President, Jim Anderson (R-Converse/Platte), John Barrasso (R-Natrona) and John Hastert (D-Sweetwater), who won his Senate seat in November after previously serving in the House. This bill would amend an existing statute to include unborn children, thus protecting them from the effects of meth used by the mother during pregnancy.
HB 79, Reporting of Abortions, introduced by Representatives Brechtel, Anderson, and Peterson, and Senators Stan Cooper and Gerald Geis, would mandate reporting requirements for abortion providers.
Senate File 13, Same Sex Marriages, is sponsored by Senator Geis and Representative Peterson. Modeled after the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), it would create an exception to the existing law that all marriages contracted outside of Wyoming are valid here, and instead provide that any marriage between persons of the same sex is void. Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Tony Ross, the bill squeaked past the Committee on Friday, January 26th, with a 3-2 vote.
SF 118, Homicide While Pregnant, filed by Senators Barrasso, Hastert, Kit Jennings, Drew Perkins and Tony Ross, and Representatives Anderson, Brechtel, Gingery, Harvey, Tom Lubnau and Martin, specifies that when a pregnant woman is killed there are two victims, not one, thus recognizing the unborn child’s status as a developing human being. The bill, assigned to the Senate Labor Committee chaired by Charles Scott (R-Natrona), also came up for hearing on January 26th, and passed by a landslide 5-0 vote.
This is extremely good news. Last year, you’ll recall, bills similar to HB144, SF118, and SF13, died in committee. These – and the other two if approved this year – will go to the floor of the chambers in which they were filed, for debate and final vote. To obtain up to the minute information on each, visit the Wyoming Family coalition’s website at WFC@wyfamily.org and Wyoming right to life’s Website at info@prolifewyoming.com.
That all five bills will survive the committee process is not a sure thing. Pro-Abortion folk – NARAL and Planned Parenthood – are not happy with any of them. Strong opposition has occurred. It will continue. For a report on what happens, look for my column at the conclusion of the Session.
Anthony J. Sacco, Sr. a writer, author of two novels The China Connection, and Little Sister Lost and a licensed private investigator, holds degrees from Loyola College and the University of Maryland Law School. His articles have appeared in the Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, Voices for the Unborn, the Catholic Review, WREN Magazine and the Wyoming Catholic Register. E-mail him atAnthonyJSacco@hotmail.com and visit his website at www.SaccoServices.com.