Legislators discuss pro-life legislation issues

Prior to moving to Nebraska, Mike Foley lived 20 years in Washington, D.C., where he was the Director of Financial Analysis for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.     Remembering the Washington, D.C. Mass held at the capitol Mall in 1979 with Pope John Paul II, Lt. Governor Foley reminisced about his attending that day and his decision to get involved in the March for Life.     “When the sacredness of life before birth is attacked,” the pope said, “we will stand up and proclaim that no one ever has the authority to destroy human life. When a child is described as a burden or it is looked upon only as a means to satisfy an emotional need, we will stand up and insist that every child is a unique and unrepeatable gift of God, with the right to a loving and united family.”     His words “touched my heart” that day, Foley said. Who was he (the pope) challenging to stand up?     Paraphrasing what the pope said, Lt. Governor Foley stated, “Let me make it dirt simple ... when they start killing babies, I expect you to stand up. If we don’t get this one right .... nothing else matters.”     Lt. Governor Foley said he decided right then to dedicate himself to pro-life.     Discussing pro-life legislation at an event Feb. 8 at Riverside Golf Club were Lt. Governor Foley, along with State Senators John Lowe, Suzanne Geist, Dan Quick, Dave Murman, Curt Friesen, and Steve Halloran.     State senators spoke briefly about their work with pro-life along with bills that they have introduced in the Legislature. Senator Suzanne Geist:     Speaking about her bill, LB814, Sen. Geist said that if passed, the bill would end the intact dilation and extraction abortion procedure. Referring to it as the dismemberment abortion, Sen. Geist said the bill would prohibit dismemberment abortion between 12 and 24 weeks—the second trimester.     “Being a pro-life person all of my life, I didn’t know this was legal,” Sen. Geist said. “I knew that was done in the first trimester; but I didn’t know that it is okay to do that in the second trimester.”     Senator Geist said that her bill does not penalize women for getting this abortion. Instead it would penalize the person who does the procedure.     Senator Geist stated that a criticism of her bill is that it would deny access to specifically low-income women to receive a second-trimester abortion.     “The fact is,” Sen. Geist said, “in the state of Nebraska it is not the most common procedure. There are two others that are done more commonly, therefore it is hard for them to argue we are denying access.”     The other state senators also spoke briefly about their work with pro-life along with bills that they have introduced in the Legislature. Senator John Lowe:     Senator Lowe said he doesn’t have any hesitation about passing pro-life legislation. Pro-lifers shouldn’t worry about how he will vote, he stated, but instead how senators “in the middle” will vote on pro-life bills. Senator Dan Quick:     Senator Quick is currently working on issues concerning child welfare and juvenile justice. He said he believes that pro-life goes beyond abortion to areas such as prenatal care, child welfare, foster care, disabled individuals and elder care. He has also prioritized a bill to support victims of human trafficking. Senator Dave Murman:     Senator Murman, has introduced LB994—the Organ Transplant Act—that would prohibit discrimination against disabled people in organ transplants. He cautioned that it is a “slippery slope to euthanasia.” Senator Curt Friesen:     Senator Friesen applauded Lt. Governor Foley saying, “You live the life that you talk.”     Although he has not introduced pro-life legislation he has always supported it. Senator Steve Halloran:     Senator Halloran lauded Sen. Geist for introducing LB814, and told her that he and the other senators, “have your back.”     “Being on the floor and debating issues on abortion and pro-life is tough. It shouldn’t be, but it is.”     Referring to the number of men speaking on behalf of pro-life, he said that “we are supporting the process of life.”     “I am pro-choice,” Sen. Halloran stated. “We have three choices: abstinence, adoption or parenthood. So in that regard, I am pro-choice, you just have to make the right choice. The choice of killing your child is not a choice.”      The Legislative Coffee was sponsored by the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life, South Central Nebraska Right to Life, Grand Island Right to Life, and Nebraska Family Alliance.