NUNEZ, LEVINE DROP ASSISTED-SUICIDE BILL FOR THIS YEAR.

Byline: STEVE GEISSINGER

Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- An effort to legalize physician-assisted suicide in California this year ended Thursday as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez abandoned a four-month push to sway fellow Democrats on the emotional issue.

Nunez said he was dropping his bid just hours before a legislative deadline because the issue had been "demonized by the religious right."

Supporters said their California Compassionate Choices Act would provide an important option for the terminally ill in pain. But foes had argued it could become a route for the uninsured to avoid financially burdening relatives.

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, the Van Nuys Democrats who co-authored the measure, said he shelved the bill until next year, the second year of the current two-year legislative session, because supporters lacked the 41 votes needed among the Assembly's 48 Democrats.

The volatile issue has split groups ranging from senior citizens to physicians.

"It's just not something that legislators are comfortable with," said Tim Rosales, a spokesman for Californians Against Assisted Suicide.

The bill would have allowed a California adult diagnosed with less than three months to live to get a lethal prescription after clearing several requirements.

Nunez drew sharp criticism from the Catholic Church and others when he began pushing for the measure in February. But Nunez said polls showed residents favor doctor-assisted suicide.

Levine said many Democrats cited religious or moral concerns with the bill.

"Some Democratic members said, 'We'll vote for this but it makes us uncomfortable.' Ultimately, we were asking people to vote against deeply held beliefs," Levine said.

"Rather than putting members in that position, we'll spend the rest of the year alleviating concerns and bring it up next year."

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