Committee OKs 2 bills on abortion

Two of the four abortion bills that critics say are clear and decisive steps to completely outlawing abortion in Utah were approved in committee this morning on two 6-1 votes.

HB90 provides exceptions to abortions performed 90 days or more after the conception and amends current abortion law by providing that violating the exceptions in the bill constitutes the second-degree felony offense of "killing an unborn child."

HB222 requires that at least 24 hours before a physician performs an abortion, the woman must be informed of any anesthetic or analgesic that would alleviate organic pain to the fetus. Sponsoring Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said despite overwhelming evidence that fetuses feel pain, people still argue that they don't.

"In any case, compassion and regard for the sanctity of human life should cause us to err on the side that it does, period," Wimmer said.

In response to critics that the abortion bills are really a way to get around the Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted abortions, Wimmer said, "I'll be filing that next." A few fellow lawmakers didn't see much humor in the statement.

Rep. Phil Riesen, D-Salt Lake and the lone negative vote on both bills, said he wished his colleagues "would grow up" on the subject.

"It's always amazed me about how this body is so against government intervening in our lives, yet we're so willing to jump into the private lives of women who have made a decision under the advice of the doctor," Riesen said. "I'm not particularly for abortion, and I made the choice. Women and families have a right to make the choice of what can and should be done to their own bodies."

HB90 sponsor Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, said his bill is being mischaracterized as a Roe v. Wade end-around. It only addresses illegal abortion and doesn't hold the woman seeking an abortion criminally liable.

In recounting his near-death experience and the effort doctors went to save his life during open heart surgery nearly two years ago, Ray said he absolutely cannot understand how any doctor whose main motivation is to promote life and well-being can perform a procedure that intentionally takes a life.

After the meeting, he said that he agrees more focus could be placed on pregnancy prevention.

"But why will we spend millions to save one life with every possible technological intervention, but we balk in supporting to give an unborn child every possible chance to live? That doesn't add up with me or my constituents."

Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem, took issue with Riesen's call to grow up and put abstinence as prevention in a new metaphor.

"What it means to be grown up about this is to eat an apple — not before, not after, but instead of," Daw said. "Being grown up is being able to understand what the consequences of your actions are. We understand that concept, and we're trying to prevent a living human being from having his heart stopped."

E-MAIL: jthalman@desnews.com