Louisiana Senate Republicans Breathe New Life Into SAFE Act— Prohibiting Procedures To 'Alter The Sex Of A Minor Child'
Twitter | Screenshot | Public-User: Greg_price 11 “De-transitioner @ChoooCole testifies in front of the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee in support of HB463, which would ban pediatric gender mutilation in the state: "I exist. I will speak despite your best efforts."
Almost a week after Louisiana Senator Fred Mills, the Republican chair of the Health & Welfare Committee shocked conservatives by voting to kill the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act or HB463, in an equally surprising move the Senate voted to recommit the landmark legislation to the Senate Judiciary Committee, essentially reviving the bill considered dead just days ago.
According to Fox News, Mills reacted to the notion on Thursday by opposing the motion to recommit telling his colleagues that if they respected the vote of his committee’s majority they would uphold its decision. The result was a sound rebuke to the term-limited pharmacist-turned-politician whose extensive political funding by big pharma was revealed by independent journalist Greg Price and discussed on AGR.
The Senate voted 26-11 along partisan lines with all of Mills's fellow Republicans siding against him and ten Democrats. The committee is meeting Friday afternoon.
Should the bill be advanced by the Judiciary Committee it will be voted upon by the full Senate where it is expected to pass along similar lines advancing to the desk of Gov. John Bel Edwards who has not committed to vetoing or signing it, but has gone on record opposing it.
"Do what you need to do," Mills told the Senate Thursday according to Fox. "We can talk about the merits of the bill for a long period of time, and I know people are saying that they want (the bill) to be heard on the floor. I do understand that. But I will tell you that this committee did a heck of a job."
Louisiana State Representative Gabe Firment reportedly lobbied heavily for the bill’s recommitment and the motion was introduced by Sen. Stewart Cathey according to Julie O’Donoghue of the Louisiana Illuminator.
Should Bel Edwards refuse to sign off on the bill, it appears to have enough support to override the Governor’s veto.