Jennifer Killpack-Knutsen ([info]green_jenni) wrote,
@ 2007-01-30 08:28:00
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Entry tags:2007 utah legislature, choice issues, living in utah

Can someone give this guy a logic transplant?
I hate to hinder democracy and all that, but it seems to me that having candidates for office take some type of test to make sure that their criitical thinking skills aren't damaged before being able to run might do us all a big service.

Case in point -- Rep. Paul Ray (R, Clearfield). He's introducing a "trigger law" bill to make abortions in Utah instantly illegal in the event that Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. His brilliant reasoning? If this doesn't pass there will be "an onslaught, a rush of abortions to go in and beat the deadline."

I can just see how that onslaught will happen: "Gee, I was gonna have this baby, but now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, I'd better go get that abortion 'cuz that'll be my last chance to have one." or "Oh crap! Roe v. Wade was overturned! I'd better get pregnant -stat!- so that I can get one last abortion."

Regardless of your personal views on abortion, you have to be worried that a guy who's best thought process came up with this "logic" is in a position to make laws in this state.

(thanks to Deanna for the info)



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[info]mwalton
2007-01-30 03:48 pm UTC (link)
Sometimes I wonder how some people get elected, seriously. I don't know which is more stupid this bill or the one they tried to pass last session allowing people to carry guns in their cars without a concealed weapons permit. *Sigh*

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[info]green_jenni
2007-01-30 04:10 pm UTC (link)
I find that the Utah legislative session is always a mix of the ridiculous, the stupid and the stressful -- as in trying to put a major effort into stopping REALLY bad bills. I rarely feel like some good has been done by March.

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[info]skepticle
2007-01-30 03:58 pm UTC (link)
Damn right, they should all hafta pass the LSAT.

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[info]green_jenni
2007-01-30 04:04 pm UTC (link)
LSAT = Logic and Sanity Aptitude Test

:)

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[info]deadbeatwriter
2007-01-30 04:15 pm UTC (link)
Can Utah voters overturn state law if they gather enough signatures calling for a popular referendum? If so, Ray's law may be in trouble, especially if it outlaws abortion in all cases. South Dakota's complete ban on abortion was overturned by the voters, and as far as I know, anti-abortion measures were overturned in Oregon and California as well — Hah! "Liberal" California.

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[info]green_jenni
2007-01-31 04:08 am UTC (link)
that's a good question -- a few years back we tried to get a citizens' initiative on the ballot to try to prevent hotter radioactive waste from being dumped here. The initiative lost due mostly to a media campaign (by the big monied company who would profit) that caused a lot of confusion, and the legislators were ticked because a lot get campaign contributions from said company, so they passed a law the next legislative session making the difficult citizen initiative process even more difficult.

The difference here is that this law would only go into effect if Roe v. Wade gets overturned - it would make abortions automatically illegal in Utah. With Roe still in place, it's more of a symbolic issue.

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[info]deadbeatwriter
2007-01-31 04:31 am UTC (link)
Jenni:

...and the legislators were ticked because a lot [got] campaign contributions from said company, so they passed a law the next legislative session making the difficult citizen initiative process even more difficult.

Gee that makes sense. Punish the voters for the company's deep pockets.

Jenni:

The difference here is that this law would only go into effect if Roe v. Wade gets overturned - it would make abortions automatically illegal in Utah. With Roe still in place, it's more of a symbolic issue.

Symbolic is relative to the chances of Roe being overturned. In a bargaining situation hoping Roe won’t be overturned is not a position of strength.

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[info]green_jenni
2007-01-31 04:48 am UTC (link)
"Symbolic is relative to the chances of Roe being overturned. In a bargaining situation hoping Roe won’t be overturned is not a position of strength."

Totally -- no argument there. Not sure what can be done in this state, though. We've lost millions defending anti-abortion bills and losing in court, but that was long before the days of Bu$h Co. and the Rapture Righties.

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