Live Blogging at the LOB
February 26th, 2008 by Peter
No, I’m not the most tech-knowledgeable blogger in the world. But I do what I can. For instance, I’m just now making my first-ever attempt at “live blogging.” It’s 12:11 p.m. as I type this and I’m sitting in Room 2B of the LOB waiting for my turn to testify before the select committee on children. There are about 20 bills on the agenda today. I’m here on the fatherhood bill and the abortion counseling bill. I can’t promise the most sophisticated live-blog experience, but if anyone’s net-surfing this way, I’ll do what I can in the comments thread.
As I was typing the post, Fox 61’s Shelly Sindland approached me and asked if I was here on Bill Finch’s adoption bill. I’m not–yet–but it’s a topic that we may be addressing down the road. The bill will likely increase abortions in CT and Gov. Rell was right to veto last year’s version.
Bill O’Brien of CT Right to Life testifying right now on the counseling bill, asking that it be amended to be parental notification. Leftist bloggers last year described him as my “surrogate.”He’s not; CRLC does it’s own thing. But his testimony just had an impact on Sen. Meyer. He asked Bill to submit language for a possible amendment on who does the counseling.
Sen. Gary LeBeau testifying right now on the fatherhood bill FIC Action is supporting…talking about the decline of children living with both parents, with biological father, the negative impact on them, etc. LeBeau is pro same-sex “marriage.” But today he sounds like a social conservative. Very good work on this by Sen. LeBeau, ditto the Village for Children.
LeBeau just went off on Hollywood, bad role models for children, etc. Parents at Village for Families and Children rejecting those role models…
Rep. Mushinsky questioning him on fatherlessness as root cause of poverty. LeBeau notes that if two poor people get married they have a much better chance of not being poor. Weakens his point a little with “or long-term relationships that are committed to children.” There is no substitute for the good marriage can do in most of these situations.
If only we had streaming video too. Is anyone yhere from the Commission on Children? They have oodles of stats on the connect between poverty and fatherlessness.
Sue Hamilton, head of DCF, “questioning the utility” of the fatherlessness task force bill. Sigh. FIC made an FOI request to her about another matter over a week ago. Still no response…which I believe may violate the law. Have to look into it…
Meyer challenged Hamilton on her claim that the father task force is duplicative…Someone more knowledgeable about such matters informs me that Hamilton will get back to FIC on FOI request (maybe FOI responses are allowed a longer time-frame than I thought)…Hamilton took no position on adoption bill, but wants balance against “chilling” effect on women giving up their children for adoption…Meyer challenges Hamilton on why DCF isn’t taking a position, hinting that it’s within their mandate and asking “Is it because it’s too controversial?” Meyer tells her DCF’s position “appears” to contradict Gov. Rell’s position.
My impression is that Hamilton wants to oppose the adoption bill, but something’s holding her back.
Here’s a question. Is anyone here from Planned Parenthood to oppose the counseling bill? When we had last year’s hearing on parental consent PP was asked if they would at least support a bill requiring 16 and 17 year olds to get counseling…from the abortion provider. PP said they would oppose even that. Other than FIC Blog, I’m not aware of anyone who picked up on that (I’ll include the link to last year’s post on this later.) That is now the bill before us today. Where’s PP?
Just as I finished posting last comment, PP’s Susan Yolen was called. Here we go.
PP appreciates the committee’s concern for young women seeking abortions, says Yolen. Further legislation is unnecessary…abortionists share parents deep concern for the girls…fault of parents for not discussing sex with their kids…stats on STDs among kids…it’s these statistics that call for action…basically shilling for PP’s sex ed bill, without naming it…
PP asked about biased counseling. Claims “non-biased” counseling, that pro-lifers don’t know what PP does in its clinics…asked by Mushinsky for forms connected to counseling, that accusation of bias is serious…PP got a little hot under the collar, danced around Q’s about what counseling is provided, eventually invited committee to tour of facilities
Jack Thompson, God bless him, perpetuating myth that there was a lot of common ground between pro-lifers and pro-choicers at last year’s hearing…
Jack Thompson just described the late Richard Tulisano as pro-life. Say what? Didn’t he lead the fight against the partial birth abortion ban in 1999?
Gotta go. Wil blog again later.