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Richard Piatt ReportingUtah legislators are already taking on abortion and drunk driving, just one day into this year's session.
They're planning on tightening up on both. No late-term abortions is one proposal. The other, if passed, could get you into trouble after just one drink.
Sip one drink and your blood alcohol could go up to 0.02 percent. And that could be the new legal limit for people driving with children in a vehicle, under a law proposed by Representative Dana Love.
Rep. Dana Love, (R) Syracuse: "In Utah we love our children. And we are determined to do something to protect them when those who should be caring for them refuse to do so."
Flanked by the highway patrol, Love includes in her bill a resolution to force drawing blood if a suspect doesn't take a field sobriety test, and permanent loss of driving privileges after three DUI offenses.
While the House debates that bill, this Senate committee advanced two abortion bills. One prohibits the state from paying for abortions through Medicaid. The other, debated for an hour, would prohibit late term abortions unless the mother's life was at risk. The measure doesn't spell out the mother's overall health, which could trigger a constitutional challenge.
Margaret Plane, ACLU Attorney: "Passing a bill that's so clearly unconstitutional does not serve your constituents’ needs or desires. In fact, it's irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers’ money."
Supporters of the bill refuse to back down, urging lawmakers to send an anti-abortion message.
Don Guyman, Supports Abortion Bill: "There are some things worth fighting for, there are some things worth going to court for."
Senate lawmakers plan to examine the constitutional questions. But that could just delay the inevitable; both abortion bills are expected to pass the full Legislature this year.
