Oregon's third senator

Being Kansas' senior senator is not enough for Sam Brownback. Apparently he knows what Oregonians do not and has crafted a bill to put our Northwest neighbors back on the yellow brick road of righteousness.

Brownback introduced a bill last week called the Assisted Suicide Prevention Act of 2006. The bill is a direct assault on Oregon's assisted-suicide law. Brownback does not seem to care that assisted suicide was twice affirmed by Oregonians and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in January. Brownback, who is mulling a run for president, should have thought a bit more before letting loose with this unseemly play to become the darling of religious conservatives. Saving the terminally ill from suicide might fly with his constituents in Kansas, but will not get him anywhere with Oregon voters who do not want to be trampled by the federal government.

In an Associated Press story, Brownback actually alludes to the "mass killing of sick people" if Oregon is not stopped.

"When the law permits killing as a medical 'treatment,' society's moral guidelines are blurred, and killing could gain acceptance as a solution for the chronically ill or vulnerable," he said.

The senator can rest assured that Oregon is not a dangerous place for the "chronically ill or vulnerable." If Brownback bothered to ask some questions of Oregon doctors, he would know that in 2004 only 37 patients were assisted with suicide under tight controls.

Recent Republican actions betray the party's once-staunch support for the right of states to govern.

Republicans were up in arms about California providing medical marijuana; Florida had to endure congressional meddling in the Terri Schiavo affair; and flag burning and gays rights have tempted Republicans to change the Constitution.

Senate Republicans should see this bill for what it is and prove the party still cares about states' rights by vocally thrashing it before killing the bill.

Brownback should respect Oregon's right to govern and save his activism for Kansas.