Point of Order Sustained
HB 2587 by Representative Olcott is a bad bill. It would force hospitals to include a question on their intake form asking for the patient’s citizenship and immigration status. So I raised a Point of Order against it. Not only did this bill break House rules, it also was anti-immigrant. In hospital settings, we should be asking, “Are you okay? How can I help you?” The last thing we should ask patients for is their papers. This bill would distract hospitals from treating their patients while forcing people into the shadows.
What now?
The bill is dead! It was late in the session, so it won’t have time to make its way through Committee again. This is a huge win for our healthcare system, our community, and for old fashioned decency.