Legislative Update
Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from a post that was published on Thursday.
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who responded to our action alerts regarding the legislative hearings held on Thursday, 19 May, and Tuesday, 31 May, before the House Finance Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee, respectively.
The committees have decided to postpone their consideration of the bill that would provide taxpayer funding for abortion-on-demand. As you are aware, the term “held for further study” can have different meanings within the context of the Rhode Island State House. This could signify that the bill is unlikely to progress this year, which, at present, is our cautious hope in light of the considerable response to our action alerts. However, it also indicates that the bill remains a possibility until the General Assembly goes into recess.
Should the negotiations at the end of the session prove unfavourable, the bill may be put to a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives in the closing hours of a late-night marathon session. We therefore request that you remain attentive to our updates until the end of this month.
The Senate Judiciary Committee also postponed further consideration of a select number of bills that would enhance the protection of life. These bills had previously been considered by the House Judiciary Committee in April, along with a bill that would legalize assisted suicide.
The most recent piece of legislation that requires the utmost caution is the HHS-Mandate bill, which was passed by the Senate in March. While no hearing has been scheduled in the House, it is possible that the bill could appear on the “consent calendar” with very little notice in the closing hours of the session.
It is advisable to observe and engage in prayer, as I am inclined to do, since it is not possible to predict the date or time of the event. (Mark 13:33)
Should paediatricians advocate for the unrestricted availability of abortion on demand?
There is a well-known adage that the corruption of the virtuous is the most pernicious (corruptio optimi pessima). It is for this reason that I am particularly disheartened when I hear of a physician who has taken the Hippocratic Oath and sworn to treat all patients equally, regardless of their circumstances, renouncing their oath and testifying in favour of abortion.
It is typical for these individuals to be obstetricians and gynaecologists, who themselves receive remuneration for the termination of pregnancies. On Tuesday, I was taken aback to hear a paediatrician, Emily B. Allen, espouse the pro-abortion position of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This experience served to illustrate the necessity for parents to exercise caution in selecting a pediatrician who is able to distinguish between the concepts of healing and killing. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder of the necessity for pediatricians and other physicians who do not support the taking of innocent human life to regularly raise their voices, as their silence could give the impression that all doctors support the deadly agenda of their activist colleagues who frequently visit the State House.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
