Latest news with #legislation
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Outrage over Democrat state's sneaky attempt to quietly pass assisted suicide bill
A controversial amendment allowing assisted suicide is making its way through the Illinois state legislature as representatives snuck the measure into a bill on sanitary food preparation. Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, a Democrat representing Evanston, added an amendment containing the language from a stalled physician-assisted suicide bill to a food preparation sanitation bill, SB 1950, which the state Senate has already approved. Lawmakers in the House and Senate filed versions of the full assisted suicide bills in January but there has been zero movement on the legislation in either chamber. But adding the language to SB 1950 means that the Illinois Senate will only need to concur with the amendment should it pass through the House. The amendment added to SB 1950 - dubbed 'End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients' - allows for patients to be prescribed and even self-administer medications to kill themselves if they are diagnosed with an illness that gives them less than six months to live. The Democratic Party's absurd tactic of adding such a massive piece of legislation to an amendment within a food safety bill sparked fury. One social media user writing on X stated: 'Assisted Suicide amendment added to a food safety bill in Illinois Legislature by Robyn Gabel (Democrat of course). Illinois has the worst politicians. They sneak this stuff in without debate!' 'The Illinois house passed the assisted suicide bill disguised as 'Sanitary Food Preparation'. It's going great, you guys,' another tweeted. 'Sneaky. Sneaky. The IL Democrats are at it again in. They had opposition to physician assisted suicide and decided to hide the legislation in a 'Sanitary Food Preparation' bill,' a third wrote. 'You can't easily find the Assisted Suicide bill, but it's there. They don't like transparency.' Republican lawmakers in the state also expressed concern, with Representative Bill Hauter, speaking in opposition during the legislative session. 'I have to object to the process that we are tackling today,' Hauter, who is also a physician, said. 'When you have a process of fundamentally changing the practice of medicine, and we're putting it inside a shell bill.' 'I'm definitely not speaking for the whole house of medicine, but I do think I can confidently speak for a significant majority of the house of medicine in that this topic really violates and is incompatible with our oath,' Hauter added. Physicians typically take an oath at the end of their training, committing to practicing the highest standards of care, including the 'utmost respect for human life.' The American Medical Association has acknowledged the complexities of physician-assisted suicide, writing on their website, 'Supporters and opponents share a fundamental commitment to values of care, compassion, respect, and dignity; they diverge in drawing different moral conclusions from those underlying values in equally good faith.' Other Republicans opposed the bill based on religious beliefs, with Representative Adam Niemerg saying it doesn't, 'uphold the dignity of every human life.' 'This does not respect the Gospel. This does not respect the teachings of Jesus Christ or uphold the values of God.' However, proponents of the bill argued that terminally ill patients should have the right to end their life on their own terms. Gabel, who introduced the bill, said during the committee meeting, 'Medical aid in dying is a trusted and time-tested medical practice that is part of the full spectrum of end of life care options.' Representative Nicolle Grasse, a hospice chaplain, also supported the bill, arguing on the committee floor, 'I've seen hospice ease pain and suffering and offer dignity and quality of life as people are dying, but I've also seen the rare moments when even the best care cannot relieve suffering and pain, when patients ask us with clarity and peace for the ability to choose how their life ends.' Representative Maurice West, a Christian minister, agreed, 'Life is sacred. Death is sacred, too.' 'The sanctity of life includes the sanctity of death. This bill allows, if one chooses by themselves, for someone with a terminal diagnosis to have a dignified death.' Deb Robertson, a terminally ill woman, joined the meeting via Zoom to speak in support of the bill from her perspective. 'I want to enjoy the time I have left with my family and friends,' she said. 'I don't want to worry about how my death will happen. It's really the only bit of control left for me.' The amendment cited testimonies from Robertson, along with other terminally ill patients who want the freedom to choose aid-in-dying care. Disability rights advocates, however, have also cited concerns with the procedure, with Access Living policy analyst Sebastian Nalls telling WTTW that it will exacerbate health care inequities. End-of-life doula Tiffany Johnson told the outlet that the option gives terminally ill patients the ability to choose what works best for them. The bill passed with 63 votes in favor, all Democrats, and 42 opposed, with five Democrats joining 37 Republicans. Illinois state senators are now tasked with voting for the measure before it is sent to Governor JB Pritzker to sign it into law.
National Post
7 hours ago
- General
- National Post
Ontario education minister steps in to prevent erasure of Sir John A. Macdonald, Ryerson and Dundas from Toronto schools
The Toronto District School Board has been stopped from erasing the names of Sir John A. Macdonald, Egerton Ryerson and Henry Dundas from its schools. Article content Article content The new legislation, introduced by Ontario education minister, Paul Calandra, on May 29, will require a board to apply to the minister before changing the name of an existing school. Article content If a board began using a new name on Jan. 1, 2025 or afterward, the law would still enable the minister to require a board to apply for approval. Article content The legislation, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, takes aim at school board accountability, in particular financial mismanagement. Article content 'I should be able to move quickly when it is very clear that a school board has lost its way. The legislation I introduced today, if passed, would allow me to do that,' Calandra posted on X. Article content I should be able to move quickly when it is very clear that a school board has lost its way. The legislation I introduced today, if passed, would allow me to do that. — Paul Calandra (@PaulCalandra) May 29, 2025 Article content Article content The legislative basis for shutting down the TDSB effort is the prevention of boards from 'misspending dollars meant for education on wasteful things, such as the time and resources that the TDSB put into the renaming initiative,' says Allan Williams, executive director for the Canadian Institute for Historical Education (CIHE). Article content Article content 'The CIHE is very pleased with the draft legislation introduced by Minister Calandra yesterday that would give him the authority to prevent the misguided attempt by the TDSB to remove the names of Macdonald, Ryerson and Dundas from the three Toronto schools,' says Williams. Article content 'We have been calling on the Ontario government to take the steps necessary to prevent or overturn the schools' renaming, so we're happy today and thank Minister Calandra. But draft legislation can take time to become law, so we urge him and the Ford government to move quickly on this.' Article content Earlier this year, the CIHE called on Premier Doug Ford to intervene and prevent the TDSB from removing the three names. It also sent a representative to a meeting of the TDSB's Planning and Priorities Committee.
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
'People Will Die': Mike Levin Sounds The Alarm On Trump's 'Deeply Irresponsible' Big Beautiful Bill
On "Forbes Newsroom," Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) explained why he voted against President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," as well as what changes he hopes the Senate makes to the legislation. Watch the full interview above.
CBS News
9 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
DeSantis signs bill expanding cellphone restrictions in Florida schools
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill that will expand a restriction on cellphone use in Florida schools. The bill (HB 1105), which was approved by the legislature on May 2, revises the law that has prevented students from using cellphones during instructional time. The bill will prohibit cellphone use throughout the school day in elementary and middle schools. It also will create a pilot program in six counties that will prevent cellphone use in high schools throughout the school day. Charter school funding and conversion changes The House voted 85-14 to pass the bill, which includes a series of education issues, while the Senate approved it in a 26-5 vote. The bill also will make changes that could help charter schools. For instance, it will require that charter schools get a cut if school districts receive sales-tax money through what is known as a local-government infrastructure surtax. Charter schools would receive proportionate shares based on school enrollment. Also, the bill will make it easier to convert traditional public schools to charter schools. Currently, such conversions must receive support from a majority of parents and a majority of teachers. The bill, which will take effect July 1, removes the requirement for teacher support.
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Memecoins Complicate Legislative Effort, GOP Lawmaker Says
House Financial Services Chairman French Hill said activity by President Donald Trump in cryptocurrency and memecoins has complicated work in Congress to pass legislation that's been in the works for years. 'It's absolutely fact,' Hill said, 'the Trump family engagement in the memecoin world has made this work more complicated, because it has distracted, I think our members, both Republican and Democrat, from what we need to do.' He was responding to a question at the Reagan National Economic Forum on Friday in Simi Valley, California.
