Washington state is set to legalize commercial surrogacy, a move children’s rights advocates say amounts to the selling of babies, bases the definition of a parent on “intent,” and opens avenues for child abuse and other horrors. Just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Washington state House of Representatives passed the “Uniform Parentage Act,” along party lines with every Democrat in favor and every Republican opposed. The bill had previously passed the state Senate with total Democratic support and three Republicans. The state’s Democratic governor, Jay Inslee, is expected to sign the legislation.

“For House Republicans, this bill was a matter of conscience,” said Liz Pike, who represents the state’s 18th house district, according to Clark County Today. “We all voted ‘no’ to protect the womb from being monetized and commercialized. This bill sets virtually no limits on the amount people will be able to sell or purchase a human baby for. I’m disgusted that such a bill would ever be considered let alone pass. What have we become as a state, selling human babies to the highest bidder? Is this who we are?” READ MORE