Acceptance of Science Bill [Failed]

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Nay to both

[Ebowed]

I still don't see how that jumps to federla funding. Why can't the regions decide?

If he supported this at the regional level, you'd say it should be up to the local school board.

The federal government provides funds for education cirriculums.  This bill is simply placing some new restrictions on what federal dollars can be used to teach.


The amendments fail (with one senator inactive).

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Nay to both of Senator Brandon H's amendments.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Two more amendments, since the two of my amendments striking clauses failed, two different amendments to modify them to get government out of the sin business.

1. Section 1 Clause 2 is amended by striking "strange, unnatural, or sinful." and replacing with "strange or unnatural."

2. Section 1 Clause 5 is amended by striking "immoral, dangerous, or sinful." and replacing with "dangerous."

[Ebowed]

We are voting on the following amendments:

I motion to add the following clause to Section 1.

"The willful surgical or medical termination of a pregnancy causes, or is in any way linked to, the development of breast cancer."

1. Section 1 Clause 2 is amended by striking "strange, unnatural, or sinful." and replacing with "strange or unnatural."

2. Section 1 Clause 5 is amended by striking "immoral, dangerous, or sinful." and replacing with "dangerous."

Abortion-breast cancer hypothesis Amendment: Aye
Removing references to sin #1 Amendment: Nay
Removing references to sin #2 Amendment: Nay

[Brandon H]

Nay
Aye
Aye

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Nay
Aye
Aye

While the available evidence does indicate that there is not a statistically significant link between first trimester abortions and breast cancer, there may be a link between later term abortions and breast cancer.  Some studies indicate that the link may exist and there does not appear to a be a good human study to settle issue (due to problems arising from later term abortions being both much rarer and much more controversial).  Animal studies indicate a definite link in the case of rats.  I'd be comfortable with a funding restriction on indicating that there is a link between breast cancer and first trimester abortions, but not with one denying the possibility of a link with later term abortions.  The science just isn't sound enough yet.

[Colin]

Aye
Nay
Nay

[DownWithTheLeft]

Nay
Aye
Aye

[Јas]

Nay (Based on Ernest's argument)
Nay
Nay

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Nay
Aye
Aye

[Rob]

Aye
Nay
Nay

[Ebowed]

Voting has expired.

With 3 ayes and 5 nays, the first amendment fails.
With 4 ayes and 4 nays, the second and third amendments are tied.

[Keystone Phil]

On Amendment 2, the Aye's are four and the Nay's are four.

As President of the Senate, I vote Aye on this amendment.



On Amendment 3, the Aye's are four and the Nay's are four.

As President of the Senate, I vote Aye on this amendment.

[Rob]

I motion to add the following.

Section 3: Cannabis
No federal funds shall be directed toward any drug prevention program that disseminates any of the following beliefs, and/or presents them as being established on scientific evidence.
1. Marijuana use fails to alleviate symptoms associated with terminal illness (e.g. cancer).
2. Recreational use of marijuana invariably leads to use of "hard" drugs (the so-called "gateway effect").
3. Smoking marijuana significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

[minionofmidas]

3. Smoking marijuana significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

That's true though. You might add the hoary legend of marijuana use leading to schizophrenia, though. The picture here is quite clear: schizophrenics self-medicate with marijuana as it helps them, though only for a time.

[Ebowed]

3. Smoking marijuana significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

That's true though.

Is it?  I thought people assumed that only because pot smokers tend to also smoke tobacco, whereas controlled studies had found marijuana was not at fault.

[minionofmidas]

3. Smoking marijuana significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

That's true though.

Is it?  I thought people assumed that only because pot smokers tend to also smoke tobacco, whereas controlled studies had found marijuana was not at fault.

IIRC the risk from marijuana (and maybe there's a difference between weed and hashish? Would have to check, obviously...) is lower than from tobacco, but still extant. It's probably safe to say that the process of inhaling fumes is carcinogenic no matter what these fumes are... it's just the amount of risk that's going to differ.

[Rob]

It's probably safe to say that the process of inhaling fumes is carcinogenic no matter what these fumes are... it's just the amount of risk that's going to differ.

I did say "significant." See this Johns Hopkins study, for example:

According to Ford, he thought he would find an association between marijuana use and cancer, but "that the association would fall away when we corrected for tobacco use. That was not the case. The association was never there." And that surprised him because of the way marijuana is smoked: deep inhalations, with the smoke held in for effect. "It seemed natural that there would be some connection," he tells WebMD.

Based on these findings, Ford says that cancer prevention efforts should "remain focused on tobacco and alcohol, two known carcinogens."

Any carcinogeous effect from marijuana seems to be negligible at best.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on whether to add the following section.

Section 3: Cannabis
No federal funds shall be directed toward any drug prevention program that disseminates any of the following beliefs, and/or presents them as being established on scientific evidence.
1. Marijuana use fails to alleviate symptoms associated with terminal illness (e.g. cancer).
2. Recreational use of marijuana invariably leads to use of "hard" drugs (the so-called "gateway effect").
3. Smoking marijuana significantly increases the risk of lung cancer.

Aye

[Rob]

Aye.

[Colin]

Aye

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Aye

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Abstain, though I'm troubled by the use of the undefined weasel word "significantly" in clause 3.


Assuming that the current amendment passes, I offer an amendment to strike section 3 clause 3 from the bill.

[Јas]

I agree entirely with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ernest and will support his amendment.