Top Ten Worst Bills of 2008!

The excitement of the presidential primaries continues, but we need to keep a close watch on what is going on in the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly. If the legislature passes HR 536, it will be on the ballot in November when we go to the polls to elect a new president.

HR 536 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution (serious business, folks) that would establish the “personhood” of each citizen from fertilization until natural death. A recent opinion piece on the resolution published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was titled “Truly inconceivable: Birth control itself at risk in proposed legislation that lays very heavy hand on reproductive choice.” This so-called personhood amendment sounds simple but has such vague wording and far-reaching implications its effect is hard to predict. HR 536 could potentially ban abortion, certain forms of birth control, and certain infertility treatments. It could affect stem cell research and living wills. This extreme bill has more than 60 sponsors and the current Republican leaders are actively anti-choice. A recent headline in the Daily Report stated, “Georgia legislators have Roe v Wade in their sights.” Not only that, this bill puts politics above the health and safety of women.

HB 916 (which has been prefiled) and HB 1 and take the threat to women to an even higher level. It outlaws all abortions and calls for the death penalty for doctors who perform them. The bill has received a hearing by the House Judiciary committee.
The previously mentioned legislation does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancies, nothing to increase access to birth control and sex education. In a state with high teen birth rates and high infant mortality, you would think support and funding for reproductive health care would be a priority for our leaders, but read on.
Another cause for concern, HB 526 denies minors access to confidential family planning and referrals. It would require a parent or guardian at every teen’s doctor appointment. What about teens with no involved family member? Are they to do without needed medical attention?

Mandatory parental consent will have a devastating impact on teen health care in Georgia. Studies have shown that many teens will forego accessing such services if parental consent is required. Conditions threatening minors’ confidentiality for contraceptive services might also deter some teenagers from accessing STD and HIV testing and treatment.

More Threats to Health Care

SB 153 would allow the sale of cheap health insurance in Georgia that doesn’t cover birth control, well child visits, or a 48-hour hospital stay after childbirth. This bill has passed the Senate and has now gone to the House.

SB 404 is potentially disastrous for women, families, and low-budget health consumers, in general. The bill creates a new agency attached to DCH to operate a health insurance comparison-shopping Web site for consumers. The idea is to help people sort out and compare coverage options by giving approximate nonbinding healthcare quotes from participating health insurers and others instantly. It will no doubt be touted as covering the uninsured, but with what?

The bill authorizes General Treasury dollars to promote the sale of individual high-deductible health policies and unregulated, discount prepaid packages of medical services based solely upon a contractual agreement between the insurer and the consumer…in other words, no mandatory coverage requirements. Marketing would be directed at young people 18-25 years old offering individual policies with catastrophic coverage ONLY with predatory features requiring the consumer to waive their legal rights to purchase products, including state-mandated health benefits and regulated protections regarding premiums, issuance, or cancellation of policies in exchange for paying a lower premium. Should the state-run Georgia Health Marketplace be promoting predatory health coverage products?

HB 89 allowing guns in zoos, churches, parks and the Georgia Dome during sporting events.

HR 413, a dangerous English-only Constitutional Amendment. Making English the official language of the State of Georgia means women in abusive relationships who do not speak the language have no access to justice, temporary restraining orders, etc. Law enforcement representatives are the first to say if we cannot communicate with a victim we cannot prosecute the crime.

HR 900 and SR 20. These tax reform proposals jeopardize the ability of the state to deliver appropriate K-12 education to every child, indigent healthcare services, and basic infrastructure.

Contact your representative or senator today and let them know how you feel about this type of legislation.