PA Senate passes pro-breastfeeding bill - (PA folks) please call your state Rep!

[MH1]

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Note - this is for PA folks to take action, and I posted in the state forum, but a) sometimes I don't think everyone reads their state forums, and b) thought maybe the rest of DU might be interested.

(I'm almost embarrassed to post a link to PA's legislative website, though. We are SO in the Dark Ages here. Sigh.)

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Heard this on NPR this morning. This bill passed the state Senate yesterday and moves on to the state Assembly.

I have no idea when it will be voted on if at all in the Assembly. I called my rep and got the receptionist and she didn't know anything about it. She said someone would call me back though.

Anyway, this seems like a no-brainer to me. I mean, next to the Iraq War it may seem pretty small, but just think if more kids would be breast-fed maybe the next generation will be better adjusted, and maybe not so belligerent?

Please contact your reps. Thanks.

SB 34 By Senators C. WILLIAMS, COSTA, MUSTO, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, FOLMER, WOZNIAK, WASHINGTON and MELLOW.


Prior Printer's Nos. 67, 893. Printer's No. 1045.

An Act permitting a mother the freedom to nurse her child in public; and providing that breastfeeding may not be considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual conduct or obscenity.

Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 7, 2007
Reported as amended, April 24, 2007
First consideration, April 24, 2007
Second consideration, May 2, 2007
Amended on third consideration, May 21, 2007
Third consideration and final passage, May 22, 2007 (48-1)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page ....), May 22, 2007

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BH/2007/0/SB0034.HTM

Oh, and the background on this, again from the NPR story this morning - apparently a woman in Reading was recently arrested for breastfeeding in public. (Oh, the horror! What will we tell the children! :sarcasm:)

[Warpy]

1. Women were expected to breastfeed in the Dark Ages

I don't know what age these terrified, fragile men and very young or old women are in. I suggest we call it the Tittie Bar Age, perfect for when breasts have become so sexualized that their real function has been forgotten.

[MH1]

3. Excellent point!

I am worried about our state's IT being in the Dark Ages, but I guess we'd be better off if some aspects of our culture were in the Dark Ages instead of the Age of Paranoia that we are currently in.

[bbernardini]

2. Why, next thing you know, they're going to force us to eat at Olive Garden...

...and talk on our cell phones! </Sarcasm>

/Which is geekier, using the "Sarcasm" smilie, or doing the HTML reference above?
//Does using slashies top either one?

[SheilaT]

4. I do wish that

nursing women would simply (those that are already okay doing so, that is) nurse in public when baby is hungry. Just do it. And stare down anyone who stares at you. Refuse to stop nursing if asked. Just do it.

I nursed both mine for two years each, and frequently nursed in public. While occasionally some man would stare at my breasts, I was never asked not to nurse. I think I probably put out some kind of vibe that kept anyone from doing so.

[Sanctified]

5. Wow I can't believe there are places here in the US

where women can't breastfeed in public and that we need laws to justify common sense, wtf. I wonder if the people who are against public breastfeeding would have denied Mary the right to feed the baby Jesus at the public manger?

[MH1]

6. Vote was 48-1 in PA Senate. But isn't it sad they even needed a roll call vote?

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2007&sess_ind=0&rc_body=S&rc_nbr=130

The nay vote?

EICHELBERGER

His website: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=1078

(in case anyone wants to send him a "WTF were you thinking???")