Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/25/1993 03:00 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 53 - ANNULLING ABORTION REGULATIONS Number 173 TED DEATS, representing himself and his family, testified against the bill. Mr. Deats stated that these children should be allowed to live and take their rightful place as Alaskan citizens. Mr. Deats also handed out replicas of the feet of a 10 week old fetus. Number 203 RITA COX, representing the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW), read a position paper by Marcia Lynn McKenzie, Chair, Campaign for Choice. Ms. Cox stated the American Association of University Women support's a woman's right to self determination in her reproductive life. The AAUW therefore, urges prompt passage of CSSB 53(fin)am(efd fld) which will annul the recent amendments to regulations which determine the availability of General Relief Medical Assistance funding of abortion services. MS. COX noted that she was also representing herself and spoke in favor of the bill. Number 285 REP. TERRY MARTIN testified against the bill. Rep. Martin said that he was adamantly opposed to abortion in any way shape or form. He noted that his own mother gave him up and he would be eternally grateful she let him live. Rep. Martin noted that SB 53 leaves the door wide open for any and all abortions with no parental consent and funds could be used for gender selection. He further noted that there are no provisions for the pregnant woman to be informed of the extent of the medical procedure. Number 340 REP. MARTIN expressed his great concern that the fiscal notes prepared note a savings if the unborn children are aborted. Rep. Martin asked where this logic would end up if we started using a concept of "Life devoid of value." He asked if our senior citizens be next. Rep. Martin also questioned who would make these determinations. Number 475 BILL BURK, representing himself, testified in support of SB 53 and strongly urged passage. Mr. Burk also pointed out that this country was founded upon the separation of church and state, freedom of choice, and one's individual rights. MR. BURK pointed out that there are several religions in our world that believe that a child's life does not begin until the mother gives birth. MR. BURK noted that he has worked as a social worker for many years, and as such, has seen the results of unwanted pregnancies. The beatings, child abuse, both physical and mental, are devastating. Number 520 JOHN MONAGLE, representing himself and his family, strongly opposed SB 53. Mr. Monagle stated that Rep. Martin was his hero. Mr. Monagle specifically opposed the state being in the position of killing children. Number 532 SID HEIDERSDORF, representing himself, provided some statistics from Alaskans for Life on the petitions and testimony given during the regulation process. Mr. Heidersdorf noted that the results were significantly different than those previously published by the League of Women Voters. Number 550 MR. HEIDERSDORF stated that their results showed that 58.5 percent of the submissions were pro-life and 41.0 percent were pro-choice. Number 560 MR. HEIDERSDORF noted that he believes abortion advocates discuss the issue of abortion without bringing in the aspect of the child and he compared that to discussing slavery without talking about slaves. MR. HEIDERSDORF questioned why the state would take the position of not fully informing women concerning abortion if they are going to pay for this elective surgery. Number 655 KATHY DENNIS stated that she was once pro-choice, but now she is pro-life. Ms. Dennis said that she is alarmed at the increasing level of abortions in the Native community. MS. DENNIS testified that she was faced with the decision of abortion versus life and chose life eight years earlier and now she has a fine son sitting in the committee room. TAPE 93-25, SIDE A Number 024 CHRISTINA KAY SMITH testified against SB 53 and read a written statement. Ms. Smith noted that there is much done regarding the rights of women recently but nothing is said about the rights of men. Ms. Smith stated that she believes that saying yes to a woman's right to choose we are saying no to a man's right to speak up for his own unborn child. MS. SMITH added that this issue is not just about money its about home, marriage, sons and daughters and the future of the State of Alaska. Number 270 MICHAEL CROAN, representing himself and his family, spoke against SB 53. Mr. Croan believed that the legislature has the moral responsibility to legislate morals as they have been doing since the day the country began. MR. CROAN added that having an abortion is a lifelong hurt. MR. CROAN also stated that there is a separation of church and state, but there isn't one between morality and state. Number 400 HAROLD NEVERS, representing himself, spoke against the bill. Mr. Nevers stated that everyone should be responsible for their actions and if a person makes a mistake and gets pregnant at an inconvenient time, then they have to suffer the consequences. MR. NEVERS added that parents should be informed of their children's pregnancies. Number 437 SHERRIE GOLL, representing the ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY, testified in favor of the SB 53. She stated that there is nothing in the bill that expands eligibility as previously stated. Ms. Goll added that the bill does not make abortion funding a priority over general relief medical funding. MS. GOLL testified that abortions have been provided for poor women in this state since before statehood without restriction. MS. GOLL pointed out that several pro-choice groups have sued the state over these regulations. Number 477 ROBIN STEVENS, represented self, testified against SB 53. He believed that the state should not be in the business of funding abortions, and if the state has extra money it should be spent funding crisis pregnancy centers. MR. STEVENS also believed pro-choice starts before sex. Number 515 RICHARD SHUTT, representing himself and his family, testified against the bill. He believed this bill would fund the taking of human life. MR. SHUTT observed that the pro-choice argument of being poor was a bad one as growing up poor is not the worst thing in the world. He added that being wanted was not a guarantee of a good life with good parents, just as being born as a result of an unplanned pregnancy was not a sentence of child abuse. Number 570 KEN MATTSON, representing himself, testified against SB 53. He believed it was not right to take the life of a child simply because it was an inconvenience. Mr. Mattson asked the committee to at least amend the bill if they must pass it out to give some parental and spousal rights. Number 667 DALE ANDERSON, representing himself and his family, testified against SB 53. Mr. Anderson read a statement outlining his position. Mr. Anderson stated that he stands adamantly opposed to SB 53 which obliterates the efforts made by Governor Hickel to stop utilizing state dollars to fund abortions. TAPE 93-25, SIDE B JULIE WARD, representing herself and husband, testified against SB 53. Ms. Ward echoed the statements above. Number 234 KATHY POLK, represented herself, testified against SB 53. Ms. Polk read a statement into the record. Ms. Polk stated that the code of ethics this country was built upon protects the unborn as well as the born. Number 402 AL JUDSON, representing himself, testified against SB 53 and reiterated the above testimony. Number 447 IDA BARNUCK, ALASKANS FOR LIFE, INC., testified against SB 53 and read a statement into the record. Ms. Barnuck stated that the primary goal of her organization is the respect for human life and believes that innocent human life must be protected by government. Number 500 GREG MIDDAY, representing himself, testified in support of SB 53. Mr. Midday echoed the statements given earlier in support of the bill. Number 550 JUDY JENKINSON, representing herself, testified in support of SB 53 and reiterated the statements given in support. TAPE 93-26, SIDE A REP. GREEN asked if the committee would hold the bill for a week to allow him time to prepare an amendment regarding parental and spousal rights. CHAIRMAN HUDSON said that the bill would go next to the Health, Education and Social Services Committee, where it could be amended. REP. WILLIAMS moved for passage of SB 53 with fiscal notes and asked unanimous consent. There was objection. A roll call vote was taken, with results as follows: MULDER NO WILLIAMS YES GREEN NO PORTER YES SITTON YES MACKIE YES HUDSON YES SB 53 was moved from the committee. CHAIR HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
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