| Today was the House Health Committee hearing on HB57, the TRAP law that aims to shut down the five remaining women's clinics in Alabama. I'll save you the suspense - they voted to pass it to the floor. Only ONE person voted no, and that was Rep. John Knight (D-77). The vote is TOMORROW, ladies and gentlemen - the GOP is in a hurry to ram this down Alabama's collective gullet before a bunch of mothers and fathers wake up and say, "Hey! Aren't they ALSO going to pass that thing that bans insurance providers statewide from covering contraception?" You don't live in Alabama any more - you live in Vatican City. These folks take their orders from Above, not from you. Rep. Jim McClendon chaired the hearing. McClurkin got up and lied awhile (TRAP is about safety - she's so concerned, etc.), then the lawyer from the "Christian" Coalition took over and lied some more (this template legislation was HAND WRITTEN, by Gawd ) and then it was time for the Pro Choice faction to give some testimony. McClendon admonished those about to testify to keep it short, [1'30" allowed] and then proceeded to repeat himself four times warning people not to be "redundant". Yes, this IS the same McClendon who threatened supporters of Pat Todd's Medical Marijuana Bill with "harrassment" for EMAILING him. When you're on a Mission From God, occasional memos may stray 'twixt Heaven and Hell - maybe that's why McClurkin found herself unable to answer even simple questions from the committee about her own legislation. Joe Hubbard seemed interested in the reason all physicians suddenly had to have admitting privileges, but he was to remain unenlightened. This is a sad day for Alabama. We have Reps who couldn't care less what we think, what the facts are, or how their laws will directly impact the everyday life of hundreds of thousands of people. I'm really not sure what they DO care about - except getting reelected (#1), collecting a nice check with gold-plated benefits (#2), doing favors for their friends and themselves (#3) and the Church barbeque next Sunday (#4). End of concern. This is probably the end of safe, legal abortions in Alabama, too. But y'all knew that when you elected the Taliban, right? Wonder when the witch trials begin... will they get a hearing?
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