Published: October 25, 2011
http://www.timesargus.com/article/20111025/OPINION02/710259930/1022
Proponents of doctor-prescribed suicide recently (Oct. 6) held a pep rally at the Pavilion Auditorium as part of their ongoing effort to pressure legislators into taking up their cause when the Legislature returns in 2012. Reporter Dirk Van Susteren covered the event for Vt Digger and described it as a pep rally without much pep, and went on to note that the rally was attended by a mere 20 gray-haired supporters.
I hope the Legislature ignores the demands of so few and focuses instead on the huge financial and personal losses caused by Tropical Storm Irene, the need to repair our infrastructure, create jobs and answer legitimate concerns about the new healthcare law.
Legislative leaders would do well to avoid a repeat of the 2007 House debate over a doctor-prescribed suicide bill that ended in its defeat — but only after a drawn-out, emotionally divisive debate. Now is the time for Vermonters to work together and get our state back on track.
Brenda Pepin
Montpelier