“As has happened year after year”

The Catholic Legislative Network, part of the political action arm of California’s bishops, issued the following statement following the adoption of a state budget on Friday morning, Oct. 8:

An Action Alert was sent earlier this week to all members of the Catholic Legislative Network asking you to email your representatives and urge them to debate and enact some common sense abortion restrictions in the state budget. We would like to thank all of you who responded.

The two Health Services trailer bills (AB 1613 and SB 853) were introduced simultaneously in their respective houses. During the debates, pro-life legislators offered amendments to ban the funding of partial-birth abortions, to require informed consent from the woman undergoing the abortion, and to require parental notification of a minor’s intent to abort.

As has happened year after year, the proffered amendments were “laid on the table” -- a procedural action invoked once the amendment is introduced. That action cuts off debate and then the motion to lay the amendment on the table is passed on a party-line vote. The substance or the merits of amendment are never discussed, much less voted upon.

Unfortunately, the legislators’ vote on the procedure is not a fair indication of their stance on pro-life issues -- only of their party loyalty.

This year, because of the emails sent by Network members to Legislators’ offices, they were more aware that they were being watched in their treatment of those suggested common sense amendments.