I want to thank Rep. Lois Kolkhorst for her leadership on the House Committee on Public Health. SB 303 (aka Death Panel bill) has died in her committee, and with good reason.
SB 303, by Representatives Deuell | Estes | Lucio III, proposes to remove my inherent right to life and grant that authority to another without my consent (slavery). If I have a right to property, isn’t my body the first, foremost, and final piece of property that I possess? If not, then I have no property because all other property is produced by my body and actions.
I know serving on the Public Health Committee is not an easy job. My representative, Jodie Laubenberg who also serves on this committee, has asked me before what I would do when confronted by the many sad stories that are presented in committee testimony. Although it is unpopular, and in many circles politically incorrect, to refuse to grant more entitlements to those who have truly fallen on temporary bad luck, and to ignore an attempt to protect the innocents that lack the power to control their destiny, but one has to answer this question in all cases:
What is the proper role of government?
Is government successful in reaching their goal to protect life with legislation that can also be used to withdraw that same right to life? So called right-to-life groups and medical practitioners were vociferously divided in their testimonies on May 13th at the House Committee on Public Education hearing, which Rep. Koklhorst chairs. The hearing ended at 2:30am the following morning, with 26 attendees “For” the bill, and 115 “Against”. Also worth noting is the unusual attendance of many legislators who had other commitments with their own bills and schedules, but attended to hear those 64 individuals who spoke for/against this bill, well into the wee hours of the morning, and… a few of them registered or spoke against the bill:
Speaking Against the bill: Representatives Stephanie Klick, Charles Perry, and Steve Toth.
Registering, but not testifying Against the bill: Representatives Jeff Leach, and James White.
Reports of other representatives in attendance were Bryan Hughes and Giovanni Capriglione.
Perhaps Representative Perry said it best when he brought out the fact that we’re hearing about how we have to consider all of the “stakeholders” in this issue, when in fact the only “stakeholder” that even matters is the person whose life is at stake.
Please thank Rep. Lois Koklhorst for her service, as well as the representatives listed above who went the extra mile to understand what’s in the bill that they could have been asked to vote on had it made it out of this committee.
-Barbara Harless
I would like to add that were it not for the dozens of individuals that took the time to testify and register Against this bill, it may not have been apparent to the committee on public health members just what this bill has the ability to do. THIS is what the NTCL is all about; learning and sharing that knowledge with others of how to communicate with those who hold the power of legislating the actions of all Texans. You can be an effective citizen lobbyist from the comfort of your home or if you have the time and a little bit of money, you can travel with us to Austin to address the legislators in person. If you don’t have deep pockets to influence the legislators, your voice and time are the most valuable asset you must use! It’s your right, and it’s your duty.