VICTORY IN HAWAII
Lawmakers kill vaccine bill after heated debate
HONOLULU – After listening to Hawaii residents speak out against vaccines and saying they cause everything from autism to the Zika virus, Hawaii lawmakers killed a bill to speed up the state’s process for adopting federal vaccination guidelines.
The bill would have allowed the state Health Department to more easily adopt the federal rules, which some opponents of the measure fear would result in more vaccinations. Under the bill considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health, the department would have 90 days to adopt rules.
Immediately after hearing opposition to the bill, Sen. Rosalyn Baker said Thursday it wouldn’t move forward. Her announcement came before the usual time when lawmakers decide on the bills.
Baker said the bill didn’t pass because there seemed to be “so much confusion and a lot of misinformation” about what it would do.
Sen. Will Espero, who is on Baker’s committee, said he hasn’t seen a lawmaker do that before.