It has been 35 years since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, but Utah law makers are drafting legislation that could bring the issue to the center of public debate once again.
Some conservative Utah legislators announced Tuesday their intent to sponsor bills being drafted for 2009 that would make it more difficult to perform an abortion in Utah.
The key bill in the package would ban all abortions, excepting cases of rape, incest or threat to the mother's life or bodily function.
Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, is one of the main proponents behind the new package of bills.
"It's a very strong personal conviction of mine. It's one of the things I vowed to do when I ran for House," Sandstrom said. "We need to get back to protecting the sanctity of life. To me, termination is repugnant, a horrible excuse. Life in any form is precious. They have the right to live."
Utah's Department of Health reported 3,753 abortions performed in Utah in 2006. Utah County accounted for 276 of those operations.
Abortion advocates silently supported preventative measures and keeping abortion safe and legal.
"I think they should make sure [abortion] is safe and legal until we can work harder to prevent the need for an abortion. We need to make it more appropriate for people to get good sexuality information that gives them a framework to make good informed decisions," said Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.
Similar legislation has been proposed before, most recently in 2007 when it failed in the House. Galloway said she does not think it will pass this time, either.
"Last week, the state cut $350 million of health care and social services from the state budget for people who are suffering currently with their lives," Galloway said. "We should not assume just because three legislators have expressed their will that that expresses the will of the public or the will of the rest of the legislature."
Sandstrom said the main reason for the previous bill's defeat was the cost - $1.5 to $2.5 million, which taxpayers weren't willing to pay.
The new bill provides for a private defense fund. Anonymous donors are ready to cover the cost of defending the bill in court. Sandstrom said he hopes these new measures will get people behind the new bill.
"Our hope is that the Supreme Court might make this into a state's rights issue," Sandstrom said. "I've spoken to legislators from twelve other states who are ready to jump on board if this goes through. If we can have Utah lead the way, that would be wonderful."
The bill is currently being reviewed by House legal counsel and should be released to the public within the next two weeks.
Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Oct 2008
