February 28, 2014

The following excerpts are from the statement “Bad Bills Die” written by Joseph Backholm for the Family Policy Institute: “The Senate Health Care committee failed to vote on two separate bills with significant implications for conscience rights, religious freedom, and parental rights in their last committee meeting before today’s deadline. This signals the likely death for an Abortion Insurance Mandate (HB 2148) as well as a bill to ban Sexual Orientation Change Therapy (HB 2451).” …

“This was the first time a ban on Sexual Orientation Change Therapy (SOCE) was introduce in the Washington legislature. A bill to study the issue was introduced in Washington in 2013 but failed to pass. Similar bills passed in New Jersey and California last year and have been introduced in Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.”

“The ban on SOCE appears to be a new point of emphasis for the gay lobby. It is likely that the bill will return again next year even if it does not pass this session. A list of concerns with the bill can be found here and here.” …