Demo says men deciding women's issue

Once again, men have decided abortion issues for women, a female Utah House Democrat complained Thursday during a second day of legislative debate over a bill that would ban all state funds from paying for abortions.

"The sponsors (of SB68) are men," said Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay. "All the co-sponsors but two are men."

But Moss' gender argument held little sway with GOP House members.

"If you are a man," said Rep. Morgan Philpot, R-Sandy, House sponsor of the bill, "you don't have a right to stand up for life? That's what this is about. It's a fundamental American concept. It's unfair to say we deny the right for choice" to women.

Philpot added that Moss' comments, and SB68, go to the "heart of the issue: Protect the life of the unborn."

The U.S. Supreme Court, through the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, robbed states from outlawing abortions, he said. "So, we have to use the intricacies of the law," like SB68, "so our citizens don't have to pay for abortions they don't agree with."

Moss wants language, which closely follows the stand of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on abortion, put in the bill so that the health of the mother and severe deformity of the fetus could be reasons for public funds to be spent on the already legal procedure.

"This language represents the standards of our community, and many of you (members of the LDS Church) are familiar with it," Moss said.

As the debate on SB68 dragged past the noon, GOP leaders once again moved for adjournment, as they did Wednesday, and didn't act on Moss' LDS Church-like language. Additionally, no final vote was taken on the controversial bill.

The measure will likely wait until next week for a final House vote, unless House standing rules are put aside and the bill is considered Friday.

"Let's not lose track of where we are," said Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem. SB68 does not stop women from having legal abortions. "The question is whether (state) taxpayers pay for it."

But the bill, originally sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, does place more restrictions on taxpayer-funded abortions than are included in normal, privately funded procedures, defined in other parts of state law.