A major brain cramp
The defeat of Referred Law 6 in the last election (HB 1215, the law banning most all abortions) lays bare the fact that our elected officials do not represent us. Instead, they represent their own personal agendas or the desires of certain campaign contributors, or the dictates of out-of-State organizations.
What these lawmakers did in passing the abortion ban is a comical display of how arrogance leads to stupidity. Here is a summary of how their dogmatic arrogance ended up producing the opposite of what they wanted, leaving we the people with a lot of nothing.
In 2005, the South Dakota Legislature created an Abortion Task Force that was given the job of studying the practice of abortion since Roe v. Wade legalized it in 1973; its impact on the mother, and if the State had any legal interest in the unborn. Theocrat Roger Hunt, Representative from Brandon, sponsored the bill and ensured that the majority of The Task Force’s members were from the radical wing of the Pro-Life movement – in other words - Hunt stacked the deck. He made sure that nine of the 17 members were in his camp.
In order to keep a watchful eye on its proceedings, Hunt manipulated his way into being one of its members. A pediatrician, Dr. Marty Allison, was named the Chairperson. She is moderate in her Pro-Life stance, certainly a woman well educated in the science of medicine. Additionally, as a practitioner specializing in the care of infants as well as adolescents, she is better informed than most citizens regarding birth anomalies, teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
At the opening of its first meeting, in a shameful display of demagoguery, Roger Hunt stressed to the Task Force how it was their duty to investigate the abortion issue and its scientific aspects, then base its report accordingly. What the minority members of the Task Force did not realize at the time was that Hunt had already determined the outcome of its findings, and had ready its final report! Representative Elizabeth Kraus of Rapid City, another Theocrat, was an identifiable co-conspirator in this subterfuge.
The Task Force naively conducted its meetings, totally unaware that they were being used, and did a very thorough, fair and representative study of all the issues involved, including testimony from the victims of rape and incest. In keeping with Representative Hunt’s request, science was emphasized in the proceedings.
When it came time to draft the Task Force’s report, the skullduggery became obvious. That is when the Chairperson and “minority” members of the Task Force discovered the majority had secretly agreed to the report Hunt had developed independently. Upon reading the canned report, the minority found many glaring omissions and errors. For instance, the testimony of all the female victims of rape and incest was omitted. Incredibly contrary to what Hunt had stressed in the beginning, religious beliefs (not scientific facts) were inserted regarding the question of the beginning of life.
After reading the draft report, each of the Task Force’s minority members attempted to insert amendments to the report, trying to make it more balanced and reflecting more honestly the substance of its hearings and testimony. The majority arrogantly tabled every attempt by the minority to amend the report. Finally, all minority members except Dr. Allison left the meeting in protest. When the vote was taken to pass the report, Dr. Allison was the only one who objected, since the rest of those who objected had already vacated.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Allison is fervently pro-life, but her objection to the report stemmed from a multitude of items, notably the absence of rape and incest victims’ testimony. Additionally, the secretly drafted report removed any reference to the advantages of sex education. In fact, the report promotes nearly the opposite. As a practicing pediatrician, Dr. Allison is well aware of the benefit of open, truthful sex education with respect to curbing pregnancies and disease. The promotion of abstinence alone panders to a member of the majority who has ideological and financial interest in programs on this topic.
Thus, the report was forwarded to the legislature and was the basis for the passing of HB 1215.
To make matters worse, Governor Mike Rounds signed the radicalized legislation into law. If he and his administrative staff had done their homework, the Governor would have known the consequences. He lacked the appropriate judgment and courage to discharge his duties as Chief Executive. He should have sent the bill back to the legislative body for revisions consistent with the will of the people. However, he was blinded by ideological arrogance.
Think about it. Despite what public opinion polls showed, despite what their constituents wanted, these politicians arrogantly ignored them - in favor of what? Personal ideology? Visions of grandeur in being the ones who are credited with bringing down Roe v. Wade? Sorry, folks. That is not the way a representative democracy works.
Roger Hunt’s reckless arrogance and fiscal irresponsibility concerning the potential burden assumed by the State with the enactment of HB 1215 is particularly disturbing. He stated, “In all honesty, it will generate litigation leading toward the repeal of Roe v. Wade.” When questioned about the cost of fighting such a battle, Hunt said, “An anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to help fund it.”
Anonymous? Really? Why? This is nothing more than a suspicious ruse, consistent with the sleazy tactics he employed in creating and serving on the Abortion Task Force. Actually, Hunt established a dummy corporation, called “Promising Future, Inc.”, designed to accept anonymous contributions. His scheme was in violation of election law. According to one State Legislator, the State Attorney General’s office is investigating this matter.
Help fund it? Incredible! How much of a financial liability was Hunt burdening the State’s taxpayers? Did he even know? His reply was “…we have not been concerned with the cost.”
Maybe you are not concerned with the cost, Representative Hunt, but we the people may have a different view. Did you bother to check with us about this potential obligation? Or are you being arrogant with the people’s money?
Governor Rounds: You were aware of the financial liability incurred by the State and yet you were willing to expose the taxpayers to it. How did you know the taxpayers were willing to assume such a liability, or is this just another act of arrogance committed by a South Dakota politician?
Fortunately, this law was voted down by the people on Election Day by a wide majority (56% to 44%). We all should thank those who initiated the recall initiative. We should also vote out of office all those who foisted this folly upon us.
Now here is where Theocrats Hunt and Kraus’s arrogant actions evolved into stupidity. Where stupidity became ineffective and wasteful legislative action. Where ineffective acting politicians need to be replaced by those who have more respect for the voting public and the democratic process.
If Hunt and Kraus had let the Task Force complete its mission in the light of day, it is clear that their report would have recommended a tightening of abortions in the State, allowing them only in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomalies incompatible with life, and the protection of the mother’s life and health.
Ironically, a law providing these concepts would have passed without controversy and there would not have been a recall. Further, the judgment of those elected officials who caused HB 1215 to be drafted and signed would not be called to question.
Instead, we are right back to where we started two years ago.
Pretty stupid, huh?