SB 1343 An Act Concerning Compassionate Care for Victims of Sexual Assault passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin tonight. As we reported yesterday, the Catholic Conference pulled out of the previously agreed upon compromise. What’s interesting is that they did not officially announce their change of heart until a few hours before the bill was scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor.
The only nay votes were Senators DeLuca, Defronzo, and Caliguri, Debicella (Earlier I reported the Caliguri voted against the bill. He actually voted in favor. Apologies to Senator Caliguri.). Senator DeLuca also proposed an amendment on behalf of the Catholic Conference that was defeated 31 to 4.
The Senate debate wasn’t as long or exciting as the committee hearing we had previously attended two months ago, but it was a far more positive experience. For one thing it was apparent that people had a more solid understanding of what Plan B actually was, and why making it available to victims of sexual assault is so important. Additionally everyone in the room was aware of the stunt pulled by the Catholic Conference, and most were upset by their sudden back track.
With only two exceptions every Senator who spoke about Compassionate Care, was in favor. Senator Jonathan Harris, co-chair of the Human Services Committee who has led the way on Plan B, spoke about his personal disappointment that the compromise had fallen through. He also made clear that in his view the discussions had not been in vein saying, “I stand before you today fulfilled because the product of those discussions is a better bill.”
The biggest surprise supporter was Senator Kissel who had voted against an earlier version of the bill in the Human Services Committee. Calling the current version of the bill a “full and fair compromise”, Kissel expressed disappointment at the Catholic Conference’s decision. He also affirmed that Plan B’s primary purpose was as a contraceptive.
I am disappointed to report however that Senator DeLuca’s remarks weren’t nearly as much fun as usual. He still got all of the facts wrong, but his delivery lacked the usual crazy flair that I always look forward to. I had to wonder if he wasn’t also just a bit annoyed with the Catholic Conferences as well.
This afternoon Governor Rell indicated her willingness to sign the current version of the bill into law. I don’t have a firm answer about whether or not we have the votes in the House, but several people I spoke with this afternoon seem to think by the time Compassionate Care comes onto the House floor, the votes will be there.
In addition to live blogging the debate Maura from MLN was also able to post about the so-called compromise. MLN’s live blogs are becoming quite popular with Legislators and their staff. Before the Senate reconvened several people came over to inquire about whether or not she would be live blogging the debate and vote.
Special thanks to Rep. John Geragosian for helping us find a seat right on the Senate floor, and Christine Stuart of CT News Junkie for showing us around. Apologies to frequent CTLP guest blogger Lt. Governor Fedele, who had to send someone to politely ask me to stop taking pictures with my flash on! I’d also like to thank my own State Senator John McKinney who recognized me as a constituent, and came over to say hello as well as to express of his support for the bill. Hopefully I can get him to write a guest post for us in the near future.
DC is carved out of Maryland (they’re on the same side of the Potomac). The fed could try giving DC back to...
36 responses so far ↓
Defronzo’s vote against which he explained with an excuse that “there are six weeks left in the session and we should continue to try to negotiate to see if all parties can reach a compromise” seemed kind of cowardly to me.
I have a feeling he was worried about the large catholic vote in his district more than what he was professing his reason was.
It’s nice and too usual to see someone in politics stick to, and stand up for something they believe no matter what the outcome.
I’m increasingly proud of my now 21 year friendship with Sam Caliguri.
I have a feeling he was worried about the large catholic vote in his district more than what he was professing his reason was.
Not out of the question, but DeFronzo did vote for civil unions in 2005 and (at the time at least) that was much less of a foregone conclusion than this.
ACR–
You want to suggest “hats off” to Caliguri for sticking to his belief that Bishop Mansell is correct, and that female rape victims should stoically avoid EC, and bear the rapist’s baby, if God so wills?
I saythe Neanderthugs should be roundly condemned for such “beliefs”.
Will someone please ask Sam Caliguri if he’d expound similarly if we were talking about his wife, sister or daughter as the victim? I just can’t imagine he’d be concerned about abortion rhetoric if it was one of his family members who was raped, and worrying about being pregnant with the rapist’s child.
It has nothing to do with rape - there’s plenty of other hospitals.
It has to do with the state dictating the behavior of others.
Actually, the no votes were Deluca (R), Defronzo (D), and Debicella (R). Caliguiri voted for the final bill.
So I’ve revised ACR’s statement above to save him some time: “It’s disappointing to see someone in politics sell out, and back down on something they pretended to believe for the benefit of their conservative donors.
I’m increasingly ashamed of my now 21 year friendship with Sam Caliguri.”
ACR,
You got called out just like Rudy did by Oberman last night.
Are you still “proud of my now 21 year friendship with Sam Caliguri” even though by your own words his actual vote means he SOLD OUT?
Crap I was wrong about the nay!!! Let me change that.
It has nothing to do with rape - there’s plenty of other hospitals.
ACR this bill has EVERYTHING to do with rape. It’s about demanding a consistent standard of care for a rape victim, who often has no choice about which hospital she ends up at. I really do wish people understood that being raped is a trauma. You don’t just stroll into the ER, pop a pill and leave.
What’s disgusting is that there even needs to be a law.
CGG
Apologiest to Senator Caliguri???
Sounds Genuine, not!
Do you mean Apologies to Senator Caliguri.
I am deeply sorry about getting the vote wrong in my post. I am very thankful to everyone who voted in favor of this bill.
Keith - wow, a politician worried about the opinions of his constituents versus the left wing wackos. What a disgrace!
Yeah I forgot how we left wing wackos don’t vote. Or volunteer our time. Or engage in the political process in any way.
nutty,
I’ve had more posts deleted than probably anyone.One was deleted just for Writing BITE ME and another for calling Ken Dixon a DICK,which he is.
Why do you hate free speech so much? Could it be because your side losing every argument and election?
Heres a little flower for you,please accept it as part of my apology,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18312789/
Geez, Keith, why do you hate the moderators so much?
Archie,
In case you didn’t know Defronzo said he would vote for the bill just as it is if it was brought back to the Senate for a vote closer to the end of the session.
I don’t like when pols make excuses not to take positions on what they may consider controversial subjects and are allowed to “punt”.
Defonzo,who is a Democrat,deserved the slap I administered to him for being way to slick on this vote.
When was the last time any one of you Far right wingnuts here did the same to one of yours?
Umm-Keith–you won, get over it.
And now that you are quoting Olberman, do we get a pass for watching Fox? Or are you still trying to outlaw Brit Hume??
GC,
Someone I met yesterday at the LOB who just recently started reading CLP thought ctkeith was a GC sockpuppet.
I thought that was halarious.
MLN’s live blogs are becoming quite popular with Legislators and their staff. Before the Senate reconvened several people came over to inquire about whether or not she would be live blogging the debate and vote.
Yay for the popularity of MLN live blogs!
I agree Gems,
Isn’t it amazing that State Central just got that huge injection of cash from the JJB yet hasn’t a clue how to do something as simple as create interest in issues by creating something like this.
I was pilloried by one of the staffers for writing that State Central was “useless as tits on a bull” as I was paying for my tickets to the JJB but again and again they continue to prove thats exactly the case.
keith, it’s not free speech, by participating here you agree to follow the rules. If you don’t like the rules, you’re free to start your own blog.
CGG, looks like you better volunteer some more time in the 6th Senatorial then, because Fronzie clearly thinks you are insignificant.
Archie,
I was here long before you and will be here long after you flame out.
GC capitulated to you sorry right wingers and removed my comment,thats his right. Since you wingers are now reduced to whining to have my comments removed I’d say it is obvious my position is indeed winning just about every debate here and I’d say the polls are proving that.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18312789/
Yes Keith, clearly your side is winning, these approval rating for Congress are sky high.
http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm
Also, “Why do you hate free speech so much? Could it be because your side losing every argument and election?” What? Okay, maybe in Connecticut, but nationally you’ve won one election. I think it’s a little early to be predicting the downfall of the Republican party.
Len–
Take your head out of the sand. (i.e. quit listening to Fox and Rush.)
Of course Congress’ approval ratings are still low. They haven’t gotten us out of Bush’s Iraq mess yet.
What you conveniently leave out is how much higher those ratings are then from last fall. America is definitely happy to have the Democrats in charge of Congress.
As to the downfall of the GOP, I’ll let you define when things become catastrophic….. lol.
Nice, my comment is removed but keith’s stays. Why the hell am I not surprised?
Well, I was pleased to see the removal of a ctk post earlier today … so many posts from lefties get to stay for some reason though … I’m very well aware of CGG’s quick trigger for removing posts by Republicans. Many of the above posts should be removed — assuming that the rigorous adherence to the rules is demanded of all writers.
For example, “take your head out of the sand” does not comply with Rules 1, 2, 4, and 8. In fact, not complying with Rule 1 effectively means that there is no compliance with Rules 2, 4, and 8.
I would not care about compliance with these rules if CGG were not so quick to remove posts by Republicans and then blame it on not complying with multiple Rules …
One more post which should be deleted.
It’s a waste of my time when I take the time to make comments and then the moderator decides to delete my post …
Mark Pazniokas has a brilliant lead in today’s Courant:
“The state Senate dealt Connecticut’s Catholic bishops a lopsided political defeat Wednesday…”
That’s what this Plan B debate is really about — a test of the waning political influence of the Catholic Church in CT, New England, and across America.
Archbishop Henry Mansell should have read the tea leaves weeks ago when the Courant wrote a front-page series of stories about him protecting a pedophile priest at the Bloomfield rectory. It took several days for the archdiocese to admit its role in feeding, clothing and sheltering this child rapist, and “not knowing” about his child troll bait of a Crown Victoria police car. I think it’s fair to say that the archdiocese has lost all moral authority on this and other such coverups.
Then the archdiocese has the nerve to try and play the “holy doctrine” card on Plan B when Catholic archdioceses in other New England states — NJ and NY — are doing a lot less than CT’s proposed legiaslation.
CT Catholics are fed up with the cynicism and the self-serving nature of their “holy leaders.” That they have tried to lead their flock down the PLan B primrose path under false premises is just adding a real injury — the prospect of carrying a rapist’s child to term — to the insult of their lies and cynicism.
And I really hate to say that. I believe people of all religions deserve thoughtful, respectable, heirarchical role models. That does not seem to be the case, currently, with CT’s Catholics. And I can only guess what the next battleground issue will be, and how the Ct Catholic Conference will attempt to make up for their “loss” on Plan B with an overkill “win” (or at least an attempt) on something else. Lowering the age of consensual sex? Gay marriage?
When will the archdiocese lobby the legislature and hold last-minute press conferences about affordable housing, income tax policy, health care, a living wage, and the environment?
Or is it just sex and bodily functions that they care about??
Paz really did capture the mood in his article. I also like this bit.
The bishops’ rejection - despite a provision allowing Catholic hospitals to use other than hospital personnel to administer the drug - drove away some of the church’s strongest allies in the General Assembly.
The stance by the Connecticut Catholic Conference also appears to have set the stage for easy passage by the House. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who opposed similar legislation last year, said she was inclined to sign the compromise.
>>….this bill has EVERYTHING to do with rape.
Not really - and I do know something about it; I’ve been to Prudence Crandall, a place most men are not welcome *and* my daughter was a rape councilor (beeper, weeks of training, the whole schtick).
Further I’m pro-choice & quite Protestant to boot.
The above withstanding, the whole bill has had no real purpose other than to give the Roman Catholic’s a hard time. If they’re now considered “fair game” how long before those pushing such a bill will call for rounding up the Jews?
WTF are you talking about?
ACR - the bill has very little to do with the Catholic Church, which decided — at the behest of its ultraconservative archbishop — to raise the phony argument of “Catholic doctrine” being violated. It’s not being violated, as proven by the positions of other Catholic archdioiceses in other states. It was simply Henry Mansell trying to flex what little political muscle he believes he has remaining.
The bill was ALWAYS about providing the same level of care for a rape victim at one one of CT’s 30 publicly funded health care facilities.
Your comment about “rounding up Jews” is absolutely incomprehensible. Care to elaborate or put it in context? Perhaps we should just let it pass as hyperbole in the heat of the moment…
ACR,
“Most Men” don’t abuse woman and would certainly be welome at Prudence Crandall center.Again you try to to transfer credit for something a relative (your daughter) did.Life doesn’t work that way.
Finally the “rounding up Jews” comment is something that reveals even more of the uglyness of your soul.
I think it’s hilarious that “thesea” has made him/herself judge and jury on what is appropriate for the catholic church over the head of said church.
Archie,
I think it’s halarious that this same Bishop who made the decisions in this instance also made the decision to protect,shelter and even provide a child molester with a car with sirens and police lights to help the guy attract more victims and still gets to call himself a “man of the cloth”.
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