Idaho is one step closer to legally protecting preborn babies with beating hearts! The Heartbeat Bill (H366), sponsored by Senator Patti Anne Lodge (R-Caldwell) and Representative Steven Harris (R-Meridian), passed the Idaho State House of Representatives last Friday with a veto-proof supermajority vote (53 for, 16 against, and 1 absent).
The floor debate lasted over one hour. Many pro-life legislators debated in favor of the bill. Below is a sampling of their comments:
REP. STEVEN HARRIS (R-Meridian): “We want to save baby lives. A preborn baby with a heartbeat has a 95% chance of reaching full-term. That sounds like viability… Let’s tell Idahoans that abortion stops a beating heart, something you can see and hear for yourself.”
REP. BRENT CRANE (R-Nampa): “You’re dead when you no longer have a heartbeat, so the inverse logic could apply that you are alive when a heartbeat [can be detected].”
REP. TAMMY NICHOLS (R-Middleton): “I hope that in the future, we can bring forth even stronger legislation and try to save all babies, because I think all lives do matter. Although sometimes it is a sacrifice to bring them into this world, I can never say that I’ve met anyone who has regretted that choice. And so I’ll be supporting this piece of legislation.”
REP. JULIANNE YOUNG (R-Blackfoot): “We protect freedom when we protect the conditions that allow freedom to exist, and life is one of those conditions. I’m a mother. I have ten children. I know a little bit about what it is like to have a baby. I’ve felt [preborn] babies respond to light, to music, to touch, to my voice. There’s no doubt in my mind that they are individuals and intelligent. You can’t protect freedom without protecting life.”
REP. JULIE YAMAMOTO (R-Nampa): “When a mother and a father have the opportunity to actually hear the heartbeat of that child in the womb, the chances of them making a decision to let that pregnancy go to term are just better.”
REP. KAREY HANKS (R-St. Anthony): “We believe that life starts at conception. If this is a way we can save some of these beautiful little children, I’m all for that. This became more real for me when I read a story about a woman who had been a director at [Planned Parenthood]. She said that a lot of these young women feel very desperate and don’t know what to do. It’s so great that now we have places like Stanton Healthcare [and other pregnancy resources centers].”
REP. RON NATE (R-Rexburg): “[I support this bill] because we do need to protect all innocent human life… We have the responsibility to protect our little ones.”
Did your state representative vote in favor of the Heartbeat Bill last Friday? Find out here. Then send them a message or give them a phone call to say “thank you!”
It has taken a long time to get to this point. Family Policy Alliance of Idaho will continue championing this bill in the Idaho State Senate and to the governor’s desk. Your action, prayers, and financial support have been indispensable—so thank you!
