Panel Rejects Bill Establishing Right to Breast-Feed in Public

As a young mother quietly nursed her baby at the witness table, an Assembly committee rejected a bill affirming a woman’s right to breast-feed in public.

The measure (AB 157) by Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) needed 8 votes for approval, but received only 7, with 2 votes in opposition. Democrats voted for the measure, while Republicans abstained or voted no. Villaraigosa was granted permission to seek reconsideration at a later date.

“I’m not a prude, and I’m not against breast-feeding,” Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) said. “I’ve seen women breast-feed their babies in public, and every time I’ve not been offended because they have done so discreetly. However, under this bill, you could have a situation where a woman could take her shirt off entirely.”

The audience laughed when Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) replied: “I don’t know if I ever saw a nursing mother rip off her entire shirt to nurse. I don’t know where Mr. Morrow hangs out.’

Several women with babies testified that they had been asked to leave shopping mall stores and restaurants because they were breast-feeding.

“Is breast-feeding a thing I should have to hide?” asked Yvonne Marshall of Folsom. “Breast-feeding is what breasts are intended for rather than sexual objects.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Rhino Bullets: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 62-2 vote a bill (AB 99) by Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) prohibiting the sale in California of so-called rhino bullets, which can penetrate bulletproof vests commonly worn by law enforcement officers and explode on contact with flesh.

Committee Action

* Domestic Partners: The Judiciary Committee rejected a bill (AB 627) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) allowing gay and other unwed couples to register with the state as domestic partners and obtain limited benefits now reserved for married couples. The voted ended in a 7-7 tie, with 8 votes required for approval. Reconsideration granted.

* Computer Pornography: The Public Safety Committee approved a bill (AB 295) by Assemblyman Steve Baldwin (R-El Cajon) expanding the definition of obscene matter to include pornographic material produced by computer technology and making it easier to prosecute offenders. A 5-0 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* Auto Insurance: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (AB 650) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) requiring motorists to show proof of insurance when registering their vehicles. A driver without insurance also could have the car impounded if pulled over by police. A 14-2 sent the bill to the Public Safety Committee.

SENATE

Committee Action

* Cigarette Tax: The Revenue and Taxation Committee approved a bill (SB 30) by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) increasing the state cigarette tax by 2 cents a package to raise money for prostate cancer research. A 5-2 vote sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee.

* School Funding: The Education Committee rejected a bill (SB 505) by Sen. Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear Lake) that would have required at least 95% of all state, federal and local school funds to be spent for classroom purposes, and limited administrative funding to 5%. Reconsideration requested.

* Residential Picketing: The Criminal Procedure Committee approved a bill (SB 85) by Sen. Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) prohibiting concentrated residential picketing tactics often used by anti-abortion and animal rights groups. A 4-1 vote sent the bill to the Judiciary Committee.