Biff_Poindexter
Diamond Member
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Rep. Eastman sparks outrage after asking about the potential economic benefits of the deaths of abused Alaska children
The Republican-led House majority has no plans yet to punish Eastman or remove him from the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans have long been wary of publicly criticizing him.
"Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman sparked outrage online after asking whether there could be economic benefits from the death of abused children. during a Monday House Judiciary Committee hearing on adverse childhood experiences — such as physical and sexual abuse on children -- documents given to legislators estimated that when child abuse is fatal, it could cost the family and broader society $1.5 million in terms of trauma and what the child could potentially have earned over their lifetime. Eastman said that he had heard an argument, on occasion, that when child abuse is fatal, it could economically benefit a society. “It can be argued, periodically, that it’s actually a cost savings because that child is not going to need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment,” he said.
Rep. Cliff Groh, D-Anchorage, said he was “disturbed” by Eastman’s line of questioning after working as a prosecutor on child abuse cases. Anchorage Democratic Rep. Andrew Gray later recounted; it may not have been intended, but the implication from Eastman’s comments was that his child was better off dead. Eastman himself did not respond to an interview request. By text message, he said, ”I was pleased to hear ACT advocating against child abuse, but a child’s value comes not from future productivity, but from the fact that every child is made in the image of God.”
Why would anyone be painting a child dying from abuse as a positive anyway?? Especially if you are looking at that child's life as a matter of dollars and cents....Will this State Rep be willing to tell the family and friends of that dead child this? Funny how these same right-wing morons never have that energy about the dollars and cents saved if you stop giving corporations billions in tax breaks and subsidies, or the dollar and cents you save by cutting billions given to the defense industry -- but hey, relishing the money you'd think you save by a child dying of abuse, definitely a Conservative fixation. Why do you think they are always so eager to cut funding to everything devoted to helping that child -- while virtue signaling about "protecting the children" -- and to the right-wingers who will reflexively try to defend this...FOH!
