Alaska state rep who suggested benefits of children dying from abuse censured

[deminks]

Link to tweet

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Censured be Alaska House 35 to 1 with him being the one vote against. He suggested there were economic benefits to children dying of abuse so the state wouldn't have to take care of them.

[Lovie777]

1. He needs to resign......

[niyad]

6. Seppuku would be nice, but that requires something which he does not possess.

[LonePirate]

2. Censures are meaningless. They should expel him if they really want to show how awful his words are.

[Enter stage left]

3. I am so glad to see there are some sane people elected to state office in Alaska.

[Permanut]

4. What? No sternly worded letter?

Sounds like the Alaska House said "tut tut" and moved on.

[hatrack]

5. And guess what Alaska city he represents? That's right - Wasilla!!!

State Rep. David Eastman, a Wasilla Republican who has faced multiple attempts to disqualify him from office for controversial actions, was censured Wednesday by the House by a 35-1 vote after asking during a committee hearing Monday about potential economic benefits from the deaths of abused children.

Eastman, who cast the lone dissenting vote, also was censured in 2017 after claiming women in rural villages try to get pregnant so they can get free trips to the city for abortions — the first and only other censure by the House. Efforts to remove him from office due to his lifetime membership in the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, a significant participant in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were unsuccessful earlier this year.

The most recent uproar follows a House Judiciary Committee meeting where a presentation about child abuse impacts was offered by members of the Alaska Children’s Trust, who noted “the estimated lifetime cost (to the family and society) per victim of fatal child abuse and neglect is $1.5 million.” Eastman, in an exchange of remarks, suggested he’d heard arguments that child abuse resulting in fatalities can economically benefit society.

“In the case where child abuse is fatal, obviously it’s not good for the child, but it’s actually a benefit to society because there aren’t needs for government services and whatnot,” he said. “Over the course of that child’s life.” “Can you say that again? Did you say ‘a benefit for society?’” Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust, responded, calling the loss of such fatalities “immeasurable” for families.

EDIT

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/eastman-gets-2nd-censure-for-questions-about-dead-abused-children/