On this day, November 22, 1992, A Washington Post story 1st revealed claims by several women that Sen. Bob Packwood, liberal Oregon Republican, had accosted them with unwanted touching and kisses.
The economic hurt is deep and will become permanent
The lockdown allows many businesses to remain open while the closure of others seems to be mandated. The stated reason for lockdowns is to save lives. Two businesses forced to close are tenants of the small mall at the end of Edgewater St. in West Salem. One is a karate studio and the other a brew pub. The karate studio is owned and operated by a young couple who have proven for the last several years they can operate their business successfully. Their bread-and-butter customers are kids. In addition to physical fitness, the karate lessons teach these kids self-esteem. Parents see this and that’s why the karate school stays at full enrollment. Since COVID, no one in the age group of these kids has died of COVID. They had in-person classes for most of the summer with no adverse consequences for the kids or instructors.
That doesn’t mean they can’t become infected. In previous times when the kids get sick they stay away from classes. Teachers can get sick too. That’s why we have substitute teachers. The young couple are in an age group that has also experienced no deaths from COVID. Statistically this business is less than 2% risky. Right now the couple is doing some lessons on Zoom to avoid financial doom. They need understanding on their rent obligations and fortunately their landlords are not highly leveraged and can accommodate postponements for now. Owning this building is the landlord's retirement plan. The lockdown threatens both the young couple’s financial security and his.
Another business at the same location is a brew pub. Again, it has been operated successfully providing a neighborhood gathering place that reminds me of the sitcom Cheers. The owners had no incidences of infections with customers or staff during the summer reopening. Now that they are locked down again they can provide very minimal customer service with outside seating and growler pickups. All staff is back on unemployment again trying to meet their living expenses for an undetermined amount of time. The couple that own the business had several years of successful operation but are burning through savings that would go toward retirement. Statistically this type of business is also below 2% in contributing to the spread of infection.
These people and their employees aren’t operating the places where the infection is being spread. They have been very successful for many years because they provide a service that is good for the spirit of their customers. That spirit is being punished as are the entrepreneurial spirits of these small business people. 99.97% of Oregonians have survived COVID. The survival rate for small business is...to be determined.
--Tom Hammer| Post Date: 2020-12-21 20:24:50 | |
Response to 2019 Republican walkouts
New prospective initiative petitions have been filed by Andrea Kennedy-Smith of McMinnville, a registered member of the Independent Party of Oregon. and employee of the Department of Human Services and Reed Scott-Schwalbach of Portland, a registered Democrat and Teacher in the Portland Public Schools regarding attendance conduct of Legislators during session. This is apparently in response to the Republican walkout during the 2019 regular session over Cap and Tax legislation.
Initiative Petition 14 amends the constitution and punishes a legislator with expulsion for missing ten floor sessions. It reads:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon, Article IV, section 15 of the Oregon Constitution is amended to read:
Section 15. Punishment and expulsion of members. Either house may punish its members for disorderly behavior, and may with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member; but not a second time for the same cause. Failure to attend, without permission or excuse, ten or more legislative floor sessions called to transact business during a regular or special legislative session shall be deemed disorderly behavior and shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the member’s current term is completed.
Initiative Petition 15 punishes absent lawmakers by fining them $500 per day for each unexcused absence. It reads, in part:
A member of the Legislative Assembly who is absent without permission when the Legislative Assembly is in session shall pay a fine of $500 per day of unexcused absence and, for the period of the unexcused absence, shall not receive any salary, per diem payment or expense reimbursement otherwise authorized...
Each petition needs 1,000 signatures to be issued a title by the Attorney General. Initiative 14, which amends the Oregon Constitution needs 149,360 signatures to be on the 2022 ballot. Initiative 15 -- a statutory measure -- needs 112,020 signatures to be on the 2022 ballot.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2020-12-21 20:01:06 | |
Many realize that more help is needed for struggling restaurants
The Oregon Legislature approved
Senate Bill 1801 to assist Oregon’s local restaurant industry by expanding the items they are permitted to sell to-go. Senate Bill 1801 allows restaurants to sell cocktails, mixed drinks and a single serving of wine in a sealed container to be consumed off premises, if a “substantial food item†is also purchased. In addition, the bill puts limitations on the fees that third-party platforms can charge a customer to fulfill food pick-up and delivery orders.
It pays to have the support of diners to move legislation. The restaurant community has seen alcohol sales decrease by 30-50% since COVID hit. Owners are hopeful that this bill will bring sales back to normal. Legislators speaking on the bill from the respective floors of their chambers were more realistic, saying much more needed to be done. As news reveals the despair of unemployed workers resorting to alcohol to numb the circumstances, are we simply enabling an increase in addiction costs and more suicides?
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a tragic wildfire season has created substantial challenges for our restaurant industry,†said Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Beaverton) who carried the bill on the Senate floor. “Oregon’s vibrant restaurants, bars and pubs have adapted and flexed at every turn as our state has taken necessary steps to protect the health and safety of Oregonians.â€
“Many of our favorite restaurants rely on the sale of our state’s renowned craft beer, wine, and spirits in order to earn a living and provide crucial jobs for our communities,†added Senator Steiner Hayward. “I’m grateful we were able to approve this assistance today.â€
The bill passed both chambers with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle. When the legislation becomes effective, it will remain law until 60 days after the state of emergency is lifted by Governor Kate Brown.
--Donna Bleiler| Post Date: 2020-12-21 19:52:22 | |
Vehicle crash puts Hood River without natural gas
Hood River, Oregon and White Salmon, Washington are across the Columbia River from each other. But that isn’t the only thing they have in common. Sunday night about 5,000 of their residence lost power to heat with natural gas. Those residence are serviced by the Williams NW Pipeline Company.
At 11:50pm Sunday evening, a vehicle crashed into a district regulator station causing the company to shutdown their pipelines. NW Natural is working with emergency officials to determine the impact to customers and on a plan to reactivate gas service.
Customers are being cautioned to not relight their equipment, but wait to be contacted by NW Natural. Technicians will go door-to-door to affected customers to restore service.
Outages aren't foreign to Hood River residence having frequent power and technology disruptions. But they usually come with a weather warning. A sudden disruption in natural gas isn’t typically what they expect. NW Natural will continue to provide updates on Twitter and www.nwnatural.com.
--Donna Bleiler| Post Date: 2020-12-21 13:35:50 | |
Police use tear gas, violence to quell the mostly peaceful protest
As the Oregon Legislature convened a one-day special session, crowds of citizens entered the Capitol building as the morning organizational session concluded. Oregon State Police responded with pepper spray, riot gear and SWAT vehicles, barking instructions at protestors through bull horns. Two arrests were made.
There were no injuries reported and a report of a small amount of damage to an internal door on the first floor. One woman was detained by the State Police when she attempted to enter the Capitol through an open window.
The Oregon State Police issued the following statement:
On December 21, 2020 around 8:30 A.M. during the third special session protesters where able to gain access to the Oregon State Capitol. The Oregon State Capitol is closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Oregon State Police and Salem Police were able to get everyone out of the building. Two individuals refused to leave the building and where taken into custody.
The Oregon State Police encourage people to exercise their first amendment rights, but it must be lawfully. Please, discontinue the acts of vandalism or destruction of property. If you commit a crime you will be subject to arrest.
Legislative deliberations are required to be open to the public, according to Article IV, Section 14 of the Oregon Constitution:
Section 14. Deliberations to be open; rules to implement requirement. The deliberations of each house, of committees of each house or joint committees and of committees of the whole, shall be open. Each house shall adopt rules to implement the requirement of this section and the houses jointly shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section in any joint activity that the two houses may undertake.
Early in the afternoon, the State Police put out another statement:
While dealing with individuals that had gained entry into the Oregon State Capitol, OSP Troopers where sprayed with some kind of chemical agent on two different occasions.
At 8:30am, when protesters entered that capitol building, at least one of the protesters used chemical agents on the police. That person is still outstanding. OSP used inert pepper ball, while dealing with these protestors.
At 10:30am, when there were enough resources available between OSP and Salem Police Department, they started to push the crowd out of the building, when another individual used bear spray against police officers. That person, who has been identified as Ryan Lyles, has been taken into custody. He is being lodged at Marion County Jail on multiple charges including trespassing and assaulting a police officer.
OSP has not deployed any CS gas.
Many noted that the police response was disproportionately harsh in light of the police response to protestors in Portland during the summer in which public property was targeted and police officers' lives were purposely threatened.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2020-12-21 07:30:19 | Last Update: 2020-12-21 13:35:50 |
But too late, the Scrooge Already Stole Christmas!
The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup gave their seal of approval on federal work concluding that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is safe and efficacious for use in the Western States, just as they did earlier this month
for the Pfizer vaccine. The Workgroup, formed to add a layer of review to the FDA, provided its confirmation to the Governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington making the Moderna vaccine the second COVID-19 vaccine supported for use in these states. Shipments are expected early this week.
“After thorough scientific review, here is what the doctors and health experts have told us: the Moderna vaccine is safe. It is effective. And, it gives us the ability to reach communities across rural Oregon and the West that don’t have easy access to cold storage," said Governor Kate Brown. "Now, we must do everything we can to distribute vaccines as quickly and equitably as possible, to protect our frontline health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, and the communities most at risk from COVID-19.â€
In a press conference last Wednesday, Governor Brown said regarding the Pfizer vaccine, "This is the moment we have all been waiting for. We kick off this historic vaccine campaign in Oregon with our health care workers, who have been our first line of defense against COVID-19. Today they received the first vaccinations in our state. These heroes have poured everything they have into this fight. And to all our health care workers, we thank you.â€
“The last week has made it clear that we also need accurate information from our federal partners about vaccine distribution,†said Governor Brown. The Pfizer vaccine is temperature sensitive and delivered by military units, and in some areas FedEx and UPS share in delivering the vaccines under the oversight of US Army General Gustave Perna.
“With these first vaccinations comes a great sense of hope,†Governor Brown said, “but we still have a long road ahead before we’re out of this pandemic. And, until vaccines are widely available, we need all Oregonians to do everything we can to protect our families and loved ones from this deadly disease. Wear a mask, avoid gatherings this holiday season, and stay home when you are sick.†The Federal Food and Drug Administration has issued a five page
fact sheet for the vaccine.
The hope is that Governor Brown will trust the vaccine as much as she indicates and lift her emergency order so Oregon can join other states well on their way to financial recovery.
--Donna Bleiler| Post Date: 2020-12-21 07:17:55 | |
Now support is needed from District Attorneys
OSP Detective, assigned to the FBI Joint Task Force was contacted by Horry County Police Department in South Carolina to assist in locating and apprehending a man wanted for attempted murder of his mother and stealing her car. The suspect identified as James Shawn Nichol, age 48, is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Horry County Police Department in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service believed the subject may be traveling through Oregon.
On December 17, at approximately 5:50pm, Sgt. Aydelotte and Sr. Troopers Hagendorn and Macy located the suspect in the stolen car at the Baker Valley Rest Area located on the westbound side of I-84 near milepost 295. They initiated a high risk stop and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. The suspect is lodged in Baker County jail on attempted murder warrant. The stolen vehicle was towed from the scene to be held for the owner.
The Horry County South Carolina Police Department, who had contacted OSP for help, was extremely impressed with how quickly the Oregon State Police worked to get the mission done.
In a release, the Oregon State Police remarked that, "This is a great example of interagency partnerships and how Law Enforcement across the states work together to get criminals off the streets." They did not comment on the unwillingness of local District Attorneys to prosecute the people they apprehend. Since Nichol will be extradited to South Carolina, he's looking at a less-than-merry Christmas.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2020-12-20 17:57:00 | Last Update: 2020-12-20 18:10:08 |
Andrea Cooper joins as deputy chief of staff, Christian Gaston elevated to budget director
Governor Kate Brown has announced additions to her leadership, policy, and legislative staff.
In addition to Connie Seeley, special advisor to the Governor on vaccines, and Gina Zejdlik who recently took over as chief of staff, the following staff will join the Governor’s team.
Andrea Cooper will join the Governor’s Office on December 21 as a deputy chief of staff. Cooper has worked as the political director for the SEIU, Local 503 since 2018. She has extensive experience in government and politics in and out of the State Capitol, including as chief of staff for the Oregon House Democrat Majority Office from 2015 to 2017. She managed Governor Brown’s reelection campaign in 2018. She has served on the boards of the Alliance for Youth Action, Bradley Angle, and Emerge Oregon. She is a graduate of the University of Portland.
Christian Gaston began serving as budget director and an executive team member in the Governor’s Office on December 7. He has served in the Governor’s Office as a policy advisor since 2018, in the areas of revenue, workforce, and labor. He worked previously for Governor John Kitzhaber and Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, and was a reporter for the Oregonian and the Forest Grove News Times. His predecessor, Debbie Koreski, joined Columbia Public Affairs in December after serving for Governor Brown since 2016.
Jennifer Baker joined the Governor’s Office as labor and workforce policy advisor on December 15. She served previously on the Governor's policy team in 2019. She returns to the Governor’s Office after serving as the director of the SEIU Oregon State Council. She has also worked as the executive director of Future PAC, and the director of government relations and health policy for the Oregon Nurses Association. She has served on the boards of Our Oregon, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, and the Oregon AFL-CIO. She is a graduate of the University of Portland.
Christopher Madden joined the Governor’s Office as deputy legislative director on December 15. He has worked for the Oregon Health Care Association since 2016, most recently as the director of legislative and political affairs. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon. He joins legislative director Elana Pirtle-Guiney.
--Ben Fisher| Post Date: 2020-12-20 12:25:18 | Last Update: 2020-12-20 14:36:21 |
Discovered during serving of warrant
Editor's note: This article has been updated. The story is still developing
The Oregon State Police, the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI's explosive technician teams are back on scene at the residence in Scappoose, Oregon on Sunday, December 20, 2020 to secure the residence location where multiple explosive devices have been discovered. The teams are continuing the investigation and might need to do more controlled disposals. The neighboring homes were evacuated.
A search warrant was initially served on December 18, 2020, by the Oregon State Police at a residence in the 33000 block of Sequoia St., Scappoose, Oregon. During the execution of the search warrant, Investigators encountered the substance that could present an explosive hazard. Investigators had secured the scene for the night and left to return in daylight hours with explosive experts.
OSP has not yet provided any further details concerning the warrant that was served.
Oregon State Police explosive technicians along with teams from the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI have so far disposed of 4 devices during the execution of the search warrant at the residence. Neighbors are now being notified that they may return to their homes, after some initial confusion.
The drama started on December 18, when an OSP from the St. Helens worksite stopped a vehicle operated by Richard Gundy-Hampton in the 33000 block of Sequoia St. in Scappoose, Oregon. The stop occurred next to the residence where Gundy-Hampton lived. Gundy-Hampton was a subject of interest in a domestic violence incident that occurred in Clackamas County.
During the contact with Gundy-Hampton, Troopers discovered evidence of methamphetamine possession, weapons possession and that he had been potentially manufacturing a destructive/explosive device. Detectives from OSP Criminal Investigative Division responded to the scene and obtained a search warrant for the residence and vehicle.
Soon after beginning their search, Investigators located suspicious items in the garage indicating that Gundy-Hampton had been manufacturing highly explosive materials inside the garage of the residence. The search of the scene stopped and explosive experts from Oregon State Police, the FBI, Portland Police Bureau and Gresham Police Department responded to the scene to assist. Explosive experts and investigators continued their investigation Saturday and Sunday, identifying six items containing explosives, which were disposed of on scene. Numerous other items were also transported from the scene by the OSP Explosives Unit for later disposal off site. The safe disposal of the items discovered in the residence required approximately 10 neighboring residents to be evacuated from their homes during the day Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the explosives, Investigators seized a large number of firearms, illegal firearms parts and illegal drugs from the scene.
Gundy-Hampton was lodged at the Columbia County Jail and is currently being held at the Columbia County Jail on $5,000,000 bail.
As of this release all the residents displaced by the investigative activities and explosives disposal have been allowed to return to their homes. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
--Ben Fisher| Post Date: 2020-12-20 11:12:48 | Last Update: 2020-12-20 17:57:00 |
You just pissed off a bunch of hockey players. What could possibly go wrong?
The
Sherwood Ice Arena is now among the latest round of businesses in Oregon being forced to close their doors due to ongoing government mandates of closure in the state of Oregon.
The owner of the establishment has released a statement directed to state government officials. His frustration is palpable:
Since March, Oregon Ice Entertainment (OIE) has been a valued partner in the battle against the Covid 19 virus. OIE instituted protocols more stringent than the State requirement for schools,restaurants, hair salons, and prisons. We also implemented a contact tracing system, which will identify all contacts of a customer with in 15 minutes. You could ask why a business would do that, because it is the right thing to do.
During the time since March, we requested the State to follow the science. It is a fact that the covid Virus cannot exist in an environment below freezing. The ice in an ice rink is at -8 °C. In addition, an ice rink must have an ACPH double or even triple of what the State is accepting from school districts in their reopening plans.
We have begged, pleaded, sent emails and left countless voice mails asking for a hearing to share our knowledge about the science of operating an ice rink. The silence from the State has been deafening. During this time, there has been 12,332 entrances into the Sherwood Ice arena. There has not been Covid origination nor spreading occurrence at the rink while our employees (none test positive for the virus), happy to be at work, fighting Covid.
The State on the 17th of December forced the Sherwood Ice Rink to permanently close laying off17 employees.. This comes 7 days before Christmas. Iam sure the government employees will be having a joyous holiday season. OIE also had to inform our customers they could no longer use our facility to “escape†from the realities of Covid.
OIE only wanted to provide a safe outlet for a community, that has largely been ignored and forgotten by the State. The notice sent to the rink, would be a $70,000 per day fine unless we closed. There were no options offered.
By forcing the rink to close the State is not reducing the spread of Covid, but promoting the at home social gatherings. This we all know are super spreader activities.
This all could have been avoided if the State of Oregon would have followed the Science and listened to their constituents.
Regretfully,
Owner Sherwood Ice Arena
Roy macMillan
--Ben Fisher| Post Date: 2020-12-19 15:49:54 | Last Update: 2020-12-19 21:30:30 |
Oregon Health Authority MIA
Despite massive push back, stalling efforts and rhetoric by chair Casey Kulla, Commissioners Rick Oslen and Vice Chair Mary Starrett passed a resolution in a 2 to 1 vote, during Thursday's
Board of Commissioners meeting. Commissioners Olsen and Starrett hope to give business owners a tool, amidst expanding restrictions. This tool, by way of resolution, might place small business owners on a level playing field with large corporations.
According to data compiled by
OSHA and the OLCC, small business owners are being cited and subjected to fines at much higher rates than their corporate, conglomerate competitors.
Inspections prompted by Governor Kate Browns COVID-19 lockdown orders are complaint driven, and result in either a surprise visit, or an inspection scheduled ahead of time. Larger retail stores appear to have several advantages over mom and pop businesses. One advantage, denoted by the data, is a scheduled inspection, rather than a surprise visit. The other advantage seems to be that small businesses are being fined at higher rates, and cited for bizarre things, some seemingly unrelated to Covid-19.
One example is a small general construction company in Multnomah County, cited for a "serious" covid-19 related violation. The citation reads "An employee was exposed to an uncontrolled fall of approximately 11? feet measured from the eave to the ground. No form of fall protection was in use by the employee engaged in activities related to the tear off and re-roofing of an existing multi-story single family dwelling." For this they were fined 1500 dollars, and another 875.00 for " An employee was exposed to an uncontrolled fall of approximately eleven 11? feet. The employee used a Gorilla band multi-position ladder, model GLMPXA-18 to ascend and descend from a roof. Due to the ladders length only approximately 24 inches of side rail extended past the upper landing." That's a whopping total of 2,375 dollars for violating Covid-19 restrictions. Conversely, a Safeway grocery store in Clackamas County received a planned inspection, where inspectors found that the store wasn't holding monthly safety meetings, and employees had no idea a safety committee even existed. The fine? 0$.
Similarly in Yamhill County a small franchise of Planet Fitness Gyms have not been allowed to open or operate, while their corporate competitor, 24 Hour Fitness, true to its name, has never closed.
With seemingly arbitrary application of the rules, it's no wonder business owners are desperate for remedy. Especially when taking into consideration the new infographic released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, addressed by Commissioner Rick Olsen in the board meeting. FEMA warns that "Following a disaster, 90% of smaller companies fail within a year
unless they can resume operations within 5 days." The new infographic has been updated to add closures as a result of illness or the Flu.
The evidence in support of passing the resolution was presented by Dr Henry Ealy, the lead author on a
peer reviewed paper which outlines how changes to death certificate reporting were made mid pandemic, for Covid-19 only, and how those changes are inflating the reported death toll by leaps and bounds. Dr Ealy disclosed during the meeting another recent finding, exclusive to Oregon. In Oregon,
anyone can submit an active case of Covid-19 for reporting to the Oregon Health Authority.
Dr Ealy also addressed facts by demographic, and expressed concerns over the accuracy and integrity of current data being collected and provided. The test being used to determine active cases has also been called into question. During the meeting Commissioner Starrett read aloud a disclaimer that accompanies Covid-19 test results, "These results are not intended to be used as the sole means of diagnosis". The PCR test is no longer being used in other Countries due to the margin of error, and was recently taken to the floor by Austrian MP Michael Schnedlitz, when he showed colleagues in Parliament that the drink
Coca-Cola will test positive for Covid-19, by current PCR methods.
The Resolution which had been proposed in the weeks prior, was postponed by Yamhill County Chair Casey Kulla, to ensure a member of Oregon's Health Authority could be in attendance for questions and clarity related to the challenges to data, and lack of transparency brought up in the passed Resolution. For undisclosed reasons, OHA was notably absent, and left unrepresented during the meeting.
--Breeauna Sagdal| Post Date: 2020-12-18 11:24:56 | Last Update: 2020-12-23 04:15:33 |
Or is the boot of government just a necessary thing?
So why is it being proposed as an Emergency?
The Oregon Health Authority finally released, long anticipated data on Oregon's non medical exemption rates for children entering Kindergarten. According to Attorney Robert Snee of Oregonians For Medical Freedom "This data is of vital importance as it gives the State an accurate understanding of what to expect in terms of medical vs non medical exemption rates. When a child is going into Kindergarten fully vaccinated, according to the CDC recommended schedule, that's usually a good indication those children will stay on the schedule."
In the Oregon Health Authority's April 30th report, just released publicly, the data clearly shows Oregon Kindergartners are entering schools at 93.1% fully vaccinated. It's also important to note that the 6.9% entering school with a non medical exemption, aren't necessarily missing all vaccines on the CDC schedule. OHA lumps together all students, missing one or more, vaccines, to calculate the percentage rate. It's also likely, non medical exemption rates have more to do with Covid-19 restrictions, than it does vaccine hesitancy. According to a joint prediction made by the
World Health Organization, GAVI and UNICEF millions of children in 68 Countries are at risk of missing their vaccines on time "due to disruptions in the delivery and uptake of immunization services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic". In fact a new set of codes were recently issued, updating the ICD-10 procedure coding system, for vaccine injury due to "
underdosing". Underdosing is a relatively new concept in medicine to describe why a patient failed to comply. As of October 1rst 2020, ICD coding was updated to include vaccine underdosing due to
manufacturer supply shortages.
Regarding disruptions to uptake, rural Oregon clinics have had to close their doors, while larger urban area CCO's have limited in person client services, and appointments. Oregonians have endured massive barriers to routine health services after Oregon Governor Kate Brown
halted care, in order to preserve personal protective equipment for a surge in hospitalizations, which never actually materialized.
"Chances are, we will continue to see a decline in non medical vaccine exemptions as schools open, and healthcare providers wade through backlogged procedures" says Alsea School District Superintendent Marc Theilman. "The Alsea School District has had our brick and mortar school open throughout this entire pandemic, due to increased safety protocols, and our vaccine exemption rates have remained well within normal range. The new school vaccine bill seems opportunistic, and overreaching, at a time when our communities are already struggling. We might do well to build back trust within our communities, first, before introducing new laws requiring vaccines." Suggests Theilman.
SB254 starts out with "Removes ability of Parent to decline required immunizations against restrictable diseases on behalf of child for reasons other than child's indicated medical diagnosis."
The legal concept is slated for the 2021 regular session, where it's questionable if the public will be granted access to the Capitol under ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Like most bills these days, it's also been declared an "
emergency", where, upon its passage, it will take immediate effect, bypassing voter opposition in the form of a referendum.
It's unclear if this new legal concept will allow Doctors to write medical exemptions for vaccine injury, medical history, sibling injury history, PANS/PANDAS, MTHFR genetic mutations, or children who are immunocompromised. These contraindications and precautions are not covered under
ACIP/CDC guidelines for medical exemptions, leaving frustrated parents to homeschool, or, for states that allow it, to use the non medical exemption option. These decisions must be weighed carefully, by parents, ultimately tasked with the lifelong care needs of vaccine injured children. Especially when considering there is no manufacturer liability for injuries caused by vaccines.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Is this really an emergency requiring State involvement, or a moot point, in terms of data? The question seems omnipresent as the new Covid-19 vaccines have been added to the childhood schedule for ages 16 and up.
--Breeauna Sagdal| Post Date: 2020-12-18 06:40:21 | Last Update: 2021-01-12 17:55:12 |
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