Hawaii Family Forum Week in Review (Volume 21: Issue 9)

March 12, 2021 WEEKLY RECAP

APRNS: When Caring Kills

More and more physicians say no.  Why would nurses say yes?

SB 839 SD2 authorizes advanced practice registered nurses, in addition to physicians, to practice medical aid in dying in accordance with their scope of practice and prescribing authority. Authorizes psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, in addition to psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, to provide counseling to a qualified patient. Reduces the mandatory waiting period between oral requests from twenty days to fifteen days. Waives the mandatory waiting period for those terminally ill individuals not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period. (SD2)

STATUS:

On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the Senate passed the bill.  Mahalo to the four brave Senators who voted no.

Ayes, 21; Aye(s)
Noes, 4 (Senator(s) Fevella, Gabbard, Kim, Riviere).

The bill crossed over to the House where it has been assigned to four committees: Referred to HHH, CPC, JHA, FIN.

HB 576 HD3 authorizes advanced practice registered nurses to perform medication or aspiration abortions.  We appreciate the NO votes below.

STATUS: On March 9, 2021, HB 576 HD3 passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3.  The vote was as follows:

(39) Ayes
(3) Ayes with reservations Representative(s) Kitagawa, Quinlan, Tokioka
(9) Noes: Representative(s) Aquino, Cullen, Eli, Har, Kong, Matsumoto, McDermott, Okimoto, Ward

The bill crossed over to the Senate and has been assigned to HTH/CPN.  That means ONE hearing in the House of a joint committee.

Recreational Marijuana Bill Passes Senate

Vaping epidemic doesn't seem to stop Hawaii Senators from adding another problem to Hawaii's youth.

SB 767 SD2 Legalizes the personal use, possession, and sale of cannabis in a specified quantity. Requires licensing to operate cannabis establishments. Subjects cannabis establishments to excise taxes and income taxes.

STATUS:  On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the bill passed Third Reading in the Senate as amended (SD 2).  We appreciate the NO VOTES of five Senators below.

Ayes, 20; Aye(s) 
Ayes with reservations: Senator(s) Nishihara, Riviere. 
Noes, 5 (Senator(s) Fevella, Inouye, Kidani, Misalucha, Moriwaki).

The bill crossed over to the House and has been assigned to the following committees: HHH, JHA/CPC, FIN,.

FROM AROUND THE NATION

American Rescue Plan

Both the US House of Representatives and Senate have passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that was signed by President Joe Biden on March 12th. No Republican representative or senator voted for the bill.

Although touted as a COVID-19 relief measure, actual public health spending on COVID-19 is less an 10% of the bill. Among its provisions, the bill bails out local and state governments as well as bankrupt pension plans. It spends $170 billion on education, despite the fact that $50 billion from previous bills has not yet been paid. In addition, the bill contains no Hyde Amendment protections--taxpayer dollars will fund abortion--and it reverses the Trump Administration rule that Title X funds cannot go to abortion providers. For more information, click here, here, and here.

Planned Parenthood Releases Report

Planned Parenthood has released its 2019-2020 annual report. Here are some lowlights of the organization's activities from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. It performed 354,871 abortions, up from 345,672 the previous year; 542,659 breast screenings and pap tests, down from 566,186 the previous year; 208,248 well woman exams, down from 213,042 the previous year; and 2,667 adoption referrals, a decline from 4,279 the previous year. Financially, it reported more than $2 billion in net assets, up from $1.9 billion the previous year;  $618.1 million in government funding, an increase of $616.8 million over the previous year; $510 million in private funding, down from $591.3 million; and 590,000 active individual contributors, a decrease from the 1.1 million reported the previous year. Planned Parenthood also reported it has over 200 "health centers" in 31 states that provide hormones for people seeking to "transition" their sex. The full report is available here. For an additional perspective, click here.

Faith in Politics Podcast

Abortion in Hawaii Turns 51!

On this episode of Faith in Politics, Janet Hochberg from Hawaii Life Alliance talks with Eva Andrade about the legalization of abortion in Hawaii.  In the second half of the show, Pastor Brad & Esther McDaniel share the hopes and struggles of both adoption and foster care in Hawaii.

Special Guest Janet Hochberg, Hawaii Life Alliance

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

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