This Washington
Extra Fizz: Miloscia Explains His Opposition to Pedersen Bill
I finally talked to to state Rep. Mark Miloscia (D-30, Federal Way) this morning about his opposition to Rep. Jamie Pedersen's (D-43, Capitol Hill) parenting and surrogacy bill.
Miloscia, a serious leftist on economic issues, was the only Democrat to vote yesterday against the bill, which passed 57-41, largely along party lines. Pedersen and the Democratic caucus see the legislation as an extension of domestic partner and gay rights. "Family structure is changing," Pedersen says, "and parenting law in our state has to keep up."
Pedersen says his legislation—which legalizes paid surrogacy (setting up requirements for surrogacy contracts) and clarifies that non-biological moms in lesbian couples can be legal parents—"makes sure that when children are born they have the right two people legally in place to raise them."
Miloscia—who filed a stack of amendments against the bill, calling it the "Baby Selling Act of 2011"—is outraged that it passed, calling its effects "repugnant" and "unconscionable."
Comparing surrogacy to sex trafficking, prostitution, and "ordering a pizza," Miloscia says that by commercializing surrogacy—"paying someone to be a breeding animal"—the chances for exploitation are inevitable with "rich couples and lawyers taking advantage of vulnerable woman."
He points out, for example, that the bill requires a minimum health insurance policy of $27,000 and "anything above that has to be negotiated." Comparing that to workers comp, he says, "we would never stand for that for a farm worker, where comp is $37,000 year on average versus $27,000 for a lifetime? There are serious health risks in pregnancy."
Miloscia, sounding a lot like John L. Lewis (Google it, kids), says: "There's no minimum wage for doing this work. We're privatizing a workforce with no oversight, letting contracts be negotiated in secret, with zero oversight. Democrats would never stand for that in any other instance."
Miloscia says he supports surrogacy when it's done altruistically, such as when a family member or close friend acts as a surrogate, "but the minute you commercialize this, you will get abuse in the market."
Miloscia, also a serious Catholic, is clearly angst-ridden over "unconscionable" scenarios. "What if a rich couple sees that the baby isn't going to be blond and blue eyed? Are they going to pay the surrogate to have an abortion?"
The bill was referred to the senate government operations committee today.
Miloscia, a serious leftist on economic issues, was the only Democrat to vote yesterday against the bill, which passed 57-41, largely along party lines. Pedersen and the Democratic caucus see the legislation as an extension of domestic partner and gay rights. "Family structure is changing," Pedersen says, "and parenting law in our state has to keep up."
Pedersen says his legislation—which legalizes paid surrogacy (setting up requirements for surrogacy contracts) and clarifies that non-biological moms in lesbian couples can be legal parents—"makes sure that when children are born they have the right two people legally in place to raise them."
Miloscia—who filed a stack of amendments against the bill, calling it the "Baby Selling Act of 2011"—is outraged that it passed, calling its effects "repugnant" and "unconscionable."
Comparing surrogacy to sex trafficking, prostitution, and "ordering a pizza," Miloscia says that by commercializing surrogacy—"paying someone to be a breeding animal"—the chances for exploitation are inevitable with "rich couples and lawyers taking advantage of vulnerable woman."
He points out, for example, that the bill requires a minimum health insurance policy of $27,000 and "anything above that has to be negotiated." Comparing that to workers comp, he says, "we would never stand for that for a farm worker, where comp is $37,000 year on average versus $27,000 for a lifetime? There are serious health risks in pregnancy."
Miloscia, sounding a lot like John L. Lewis (Google it, kids), says: "There's no minimum wage for doing this work. We're privatizing a workforce with no oversight, letting contracts be negotiated in secret, with zero oversight. Democrats would never stand for that in any other instance."
Miloscia says he supports surrogacy when it's done altruistically, such as when a family member or close friend acts as a surrogate, "but the minute you commercialize this, you will get abuse in the market."
Miloscia, also a serious Catholic, is clearly angst-ridden over "unconscionable" scenarios. "What if a rich couple sees that the baby isn't going to be blond and blue eyed? Are they going to pay the surrogate to have an abortion?"
The bill was referred to the senate government operations committee today.
