Bill that strengthens euthanasia laws OK'd

A state House panel, without objection, approved a bill Wednesday aimed at strengthening state laws banning mercy killing, euthanasia and assisted suicides.

House Bill 1086 amends state law dealing with medical consent and declarations concerning life-sustaining procedures. The proposed provision would state that nothing in the law "shall be construed to condone, authorize or approve assistance to suicide, mercy killing, or euthanasia."

The bill's sponsor state Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, told the House Health and Welfare Committee that the legislation would provide the non-terminally ill and the severely disabled the same protections as the terminally ill.

HB1086 now moves to the House floor for debate.

Senate OKs Medicaid trust fund legislation

A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at protecting a Medicaid trust fund from budget cuts in tough financial times cleared the Louisiana Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate voted 37-0 for Senate Bill 82 involving the Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly. It would become the sixth area exempt from budget adjustments. The others are the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, severance tax and royalty allocations to parishes, state retirement system contributions, the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund and the Millenium Trust.

The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Sherri Smith Buffington, R-Keithville, now heads to the House for consideration. If approved there, the proposition heads to the Nov. 6 election ballot for voter approval.