Legislative committees discuss medicine and protections.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - On Wednesday, committees and legislature looked at access to medicine and protections.

The House Minerals Business and Economic Development Committee discussed a news source shield law bill Wednesday.

The bill helps journalists and media protect whistle-blowers and sources that could inform the public of wrongdoing.

Wyoming is 1 of 2 states that don’t have this law.

“I think everyone wants a society where we need to know where there are bad things happening, that are contrary to public policy or interest, or if corporations of government are doing nefarious things,” said Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, H.D. 43.

Yet critics say this bill could protect bad actors and encourage defamation.

“This isn’t about protecting the journalist; this is about protecting the sources. This is about protecting people that are willing to go out on a limb and expose the corruption the wrong doing that’s going on. Maybe it’s harassment, sexual assault, any of those sort of things that are going on that need to be exposed,” said Brain Martin, Managing Editor of Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Next, the Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee heard a bill that would outlaw drugs used in chemical abortions.

These drugs are used when mothers spontaneously abort but can not complete fetal expulsion.

“I think there is a lack of education, and we need a more comprehensive approach as a community to truly provide care and prevent maternal mortality of the women of Wyoming,” said Dr. Sarah Gregory, Medical Doctor.

The committee heard from doctors, advocates and citizens, and many spoke of conception, medical practice and rights.

”We continually turn this into a woman’s health care issue, but at the end of the day, if there is a problem, the doctor is more than free to try to save the mother’s life,” said Sen. Troy McKeown, S.D. 24

Additionally, if the current Wyoming Trigger Bill passes litigation, it would supersede this bill, banning all abortions and miscarriage medication in Wyoming with few exceptions.

“The danger being is we lose access to these drugs so not just ends abortion ...It ends medical access to drugs that are important drugs,” Sen. Fred Baldwin, Chairman of the Senate Labor, Health & Social Services Committee- S.D. 14.

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