Yesterday was a sad day in the history of our state. First, important protections for the innocent unborn failed to pass the Senate. But secondly, the deliberative process broke down in the Senate chamber as members of both parties attempted to use the rules to pass or stop the passage of the fetal pain bill (SB 5) immediately before the midnight deadline. Opponents of the bill, who had come to support a lengthy and publicized filibuster to stop the passage of the bill, filled the Senate gallery and Capitol hallways and rotunda. And after a doubtful point of order was sustained and followed by general parliamentary confusion, the opponents of the bill became very unruly and interrupted the debate multiple times. Finally, in a mob-like fashion they took over the filibuster themselves, chanting and yelling, and finally sustaining a general roar that turned the upper chamber into a frenzy. That is the context in which the last few motions and votes were made with Senators crowded around the dais. We did not know what was actually decided until three hours later after the Senate caucused and the Lt. Gov. declared that the session had expired before it could be signed in the presence of the Senate. Now the Governor has called a second special session, so we will be back anyway to deal with the same issues again. Neither side should claim any victory. I hope that in the future we will all "do unto others as we would have them do unto us" instead of torquing the rules and reducing the decision-making process of our great state to a shouting match. Please pray for us that we may make laws that are righteous and do so in a respectful and orderly manner.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 00:53:03 +0000
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