The public spoke out overwhelmingly against a bill that would restrict abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from teaching or providing resources in Juneau schools.
By the Empire’s count, 48 members of the public opposed Senate Bill 191 while seven supported it during more than two hours of public testimony Thursday afternoon at the Capitol.
Thursday was the first opportunity for public testimony on SB 191, sponsored by Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla — and the public showed up in force. Almost every chair in the Senate Education Committee room was filled, many with Juneau teenagers.
“I just want to say this bill is crazy. It really is absolutely crazy,” Douglas resident and parent Lisa EaganLagerquist said. “How many of you have heard a Planned Parenthood presentation?”
When none of the senators on the five-member Senate Education Committee indicated they had, EaganLagerquist continued, “Can you really say something shouldn’t be in schools when you haven’t even heard it?”
I should first point out that this IS Juneau, which is one of the most liberal bastions in the entire state.
The conversation would have of course been much different if this testimony were taken in Wasilla for instance. And the same could be said for if the hearing had taken place in Anchorage, because you can bet they would have bused in teens from Wasilla to participate.
However in many corners of the state you have always been able to find quite a few very vocal, well educated liberals and it's nice to see the Juneau teenagers, and their parents, upholding that proud tradition.
Just a reminder that not EVERYBODY up here is some ignorant inbred moron like the Palin family.
This is good to hear. What would also be nice to see from time to time is some positive coverage from the lower 48 states that stay in your crosshairs. Florida, Alabama, the Carolinas and Texas come to mind.
ReplyDeleteAlaskans are great. Bullies are not.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see this. One of the functions of providers such as Planned Parenthood that no one discusses is questions from teenagers. Teenagers often get very anxious about things that are perfectly normal with regard to their bodies believing there is something wrong with them or that they are different. Then they are embarrassed to ask parents about it and some have no one to ask. They can offer reassurance and information which is really important for young women.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Celia!
DeleteSome day I'll be able to visit our state capitol when something like this come up. BUT It is easier to get to Juneau from Seattle than say, Willow. So I'm resorted to telling bible beater Dunleavey, at WasillaTaco Bell, to keep his fucking "thoughts and beliefs" away from my daughter's uterus. Asshole.
ReplyDeletePedophiles For Dunleavey!
ReplyDeletePedophiles For Dunleavey!
Pedophiles For Dunleavey!
Pedophiles For Dunleavey!
Dunleavey is the pedophiles dream candidate.
Remember, these are repubes trying to pass this. What makes anyone think they will actually LISTEN to what the people tell them?
ReplyDeleteJuneau is a tiny blue dot in a sea of red in Alaska...one of the many reasons I live here!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful! Back in the seventies, girls and women had to drive an hour and a half away from our city (Philadelphia) to the closest Planned Parenthood in Paoli, PA. Finally we got three in our city, but they weren't allowed to have signage that included "Planned Parenthood", after awhile, the city became more and more liberal and they are treated just like any other establishment.
ReplyDeleteThey'd give you a pseudonym if you didn't want to be called by your name on the phone after your tests came through, and they counselled you and treated you as a human being deserving of respect. It's hard enough being a teen to begin with, but knowing your privacy was protected helped save more lives.
Sadly, it fell on deaf ears at that committee, and they passed it through. Someone uncovered that the bill was written by AK Right to Life and called Dunleavy out on imposing one set of religious beliefs on everyone. He lied his face off about where the bill came from and who was behind it. We need to deluge our senators and reps to vote against SB 89 & 191.
ReplyDeleteYep. Has a teen age prudish, sexually uneducated and sexually inactive older cousin. Some boy kissed her on the stairs at school (on a bet.) She thought she could get pregnant from it. Glad that PP was there so she didn't have to throw herself down the stairs like she swore she would if she was preggers. And they didn't even laugh at her like ten year old precocious me did.
ReplyDeleteI loathe those troglodites Mike Dunleavy and Pete Kelly. Please Wasilla and Fairbanks, find good people to run against them.
ReplyDelete