Bryan Fischer: Pharmacist Conscience Bill Clears First Hurdle


A bill which will protect the conscience rights of pharmacists cleared its first legislative hurdle today by being passed by the House State Affairs Committee, with some recommended amendments that will not materially alter the effect of the bill.
Although it passed on a voice vote, a procedural roll call vote on a substitute motion indicated clearly that the bill had the support of 14 out of the 18 members of the committee. Much credit goes to Rep. Tom Loertscher of Iona (right, with Idaho Chooses Life’s David Ripley) for his sponsorship of this bill.
Every Republican on the committee voted for it, as did one Democrat, Mary Lou Shepherd of Wallace, who to her credit has bucked her party a number of times in recent years to cast pro-life votes.
The “No” votes were cast by Democrats Elaine Smith of Pocatello, and Phylis King, Elfreda Higgins and Ann Pasley-Stuart, all of Boise.
David Ripley of Idaho Chooses Life, who has done yeoman work behind the scenes to develop this bill, testified on its behalf.
I testified on behalf of all of us in the IVA, rehearsing for the committee the proud tradition liberty of conscience as a fundamental right has enjoyed in this country, beginning with the Founders.
Thomas Jefferson, for instance, said bluntly that no provision in the Constitution “ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of civil authority.”
George Washington similarly affirmed the importance of treating the “conscientious scruples” of men with great deference, and expressed his wish that “the laws may always be extensively accommodated to them.”
Tim Roosenberg of the Northwest Religious Liberty Association testified ably in support of the bill, and stood his ground honorably against rather withering and probably inappropriate grilling from Rep. Pasley-Stuart. Committee chairman Eric Anderson was forced to interrupt Rep. Pasley-Stuart’s challenges to remind her of committee protocol.
Pharmacist Gloria Hansen spoke eloquently in support of conscience rights, saying, “I do know that we need to act according to our conscience … I lean on the rock which is the Lord God.”
The bill now goes to the full House for a vote, and if successful there as expected will then go to the Senate. The bottom line is that today was a good day for the pro-life movement in Idaho.
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Posted in Family Matters, Idaho Legislature, Idaho Pro-Life Issues, Rep. Tom Loertscher | No Comments »