Karl Marx was famous for wanting to abolish all private property. But that is not the only thing he wanted to eliminate. He is also said, “Abolish The Family!” Why would such an awful idea be an important tenet to the founder of communism? Because the family is a fundamental institution that stands in the way of total state control over a people.
House Bill 2002
HB 2002 is the most extreme abortion and gender-altering bill in our nation’s history. There is a lot in this bill to depise. Here are some of the lowlights:
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10-Year-Olds can have Abortions Without Parental Knowledge
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No Age Restriction for Irreversible, Gender-Altering Procedures
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Forces Private Insurance Providers to Cover Gender-Altering Procedures, Including Facial Feminization Surgery & Laser Hair Removal
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Removes The “Prohibition on Concealing the Birth of an Infant”
Some proponents of HB 2002 claim that after the recent Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court — making abortion a decision for each state rather than a Federal law — HB 2002 was necessary to protect Oregon’s current abortion laws. This is simply not true. Dobbs put nothing at risk in Oregon concerning the legality of current abortion in Oregon. Instead, HB 2002 is a full on expansion of abortion AND now adds gender-altering procedures (often which are very expensive) to the list of items insurance companies must cover.
On Thursday evening, during the Joint Ways & Means Committee meeting on HB 2002, I asked the Legislative Fiscal Office how much HB 2002’s new, expensive and mandated coverage would cost Oregonians in higher insurance premiums. The answer: they didn’t know. I then asked if such expanded coverage would be available to those in the Healthier Oregon Program (a healthcare plan, like medicaid, that covers people in our state who are not in the country legally). The answer: yes, recipients in Healthier Oregon would get this coverage as well, but how much that would cost was indeterminate.
Normally these inconclusive answers would be enough to stop a bill moving forward. Unknown fiscal answers of this magnitude are forbidden in Ways & Means. However, my questions about the bill were not the only ones unanswered. Several other Republicans asked pointed questions about the bill’s ramifications. Legislative Council (the Legislatures “Law Firm”) could not give definitive answers.
In contrast, the only clear answer given by the Legislative Council was whether under HB 2002 a 10 year-old could get an abortion without parental knowledge or consent. The answer was yes — and then there was an audible gasp in the room by one or more Democrat legislators. They did not know that was part of this bill! Even so, Democrats sponsored and voted this bill out of committee after one brief hour of discussion and a lot of uncertainty by the legislature’s legal and fiscal experts.
The Bigger Problem
By now I hope you can see the major moral flaws with this legislation and the ramifications for every Oregonian. However, the biggest problem in this bill is abortion procedures and gender-altering treatments that can be given to children without parental knowledge or consent. A son or daughter may be well down the path of transitioning emotionally and/or begin physical “medical treatments” before Mom or Dad may become aware of what is going on behind their backs.
HB 2002 is another nail in the coffin, pushing parental authority into last place concerning a child’s well-being. That’s exactly why I introduced HJR 19, which would make clear in Oregon’s constitution that parents have a fundamental right to the upbringing, education and care of their children. Democrats have blocked this common sense, absolutely necessary, HJR 19 resolution in committee. You may now understand why.
Oregon will either continue the way of Marx by further eviscerating the family’s authority and structure in society or the state of Oregon will turn and stand for the long American tradition to support and encourage strong families.
HB 2002 will be scheduled for a full debate and vote by Oregon’s House of Representatives during the first week of May. Edmond Burke once said, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing.”
Now that you know, what will you do?
Will you call Democrat legislators and tell them how you feel? Will you write them? Will you visit the Capitol on the day this bill is debated to help give them the courage to vote NO?
Best regards,
E. WERNER RESCHKE
State Representative, HD 55
The Crater Lake District
Capitol Phone
(503) 986-1455
Capitol Address
900 Court St. NE, H-383
Salem, OR 97301
Email
Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website
www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
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