House approves 2 measures on abortions

Two bills that have been characterized as end runs around Roe v. Wade passed the House Tuesday morning.

A bill that would make an illegal abortion a second-degree felony homicide, HB90, was approved 56-16 by the Utah House Tuesday morning. Another bill, HB222, would require doctors to advise abortion patients who are more than 20 weeks into their pregnancy about the potential for fetal pain. It passed 56-15.

Following about a half-hour debate on HB90, which included a failed amendment to lessen the penalty, and a claim by a representative that the legislative session just entering its second week is going down as the "most Orwellian" in history, representatives approved HB90.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, apparently convinced fellow lawmakers that his measure wouldn't outlaw abortion but only bring the abortion of a fetus after 20 weeks in line with criminal code.

"We're not arguing abortion, we're not redefining it," Ray said. "If someone does an illegal abortion, it's a felony. If an unborn child is killed by someone punching a woman in the stomach, it is murder. This just brings illegal abortions up to the same standard, no matter in what manner you murder the fetus."

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 a claim during the short debate that evidence of fetal pain is inconclusive, "the idea that a fetus at 20 weeks doesn't feel pain is embarrassing, laughable and absurd," and akin to a prevalent but incorrect attitude 230 years ago that slaves didn't feel pain and 50 years ago that newborn babies didn't feel pain.

The measure is not a mandate that the woman undergo anesthesia procedures for the fetus, only that she be told.

Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake, said the real absurdity of the bill is it not only continues the state's shameful level of concern for the health of women, it takes an anguishing and tragic decision and makes it worse. She added that it encourages doctors following a medical protocol that has not been proven, "and forces physicians to make this up as they go."

She said the scope is minor and would have involved only 18 women had it been on the books this past year.

E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com