States See Action On Abortion-Related Measures

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 17 Mar 2010 - 5:00 PDT


Several states recently saw activity on abortion-related issues. Summaries appear below.

~ Alaska: The Alaska Division of Elections has reported that enough signatures have been collected to place a parental involvement initiative on the state's August primary ballot, the AP/Anchorage Daily News reports. The initiative would require parental notification or consent before a minor can receive an abortion, although the exact wording of the measure remains unclear. A superior court decision is pending to resolve arguments over whether the initiative makes clear to voters that physicians could be jailed for five years if they fail to locate a parent, verify the parent's identification and personally notify him or her of the procedure. The measure's supporters collected 36,285 signatures, more than the 32,734 they were required to gather to get the measure on the ballot, the Division of Elections said (AP/Anchorage Daily News, 3/13).

~ Georgia: Georgia state Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R) on Friday said a bill (HB 1155) that would prohibit abortions based on the race or gender of the fetus is on track for a House floor vote, despite being sent back to committee last Thursday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Political Insider" reports. The bill, sponsored by Loudermilk, would allow a physician to be jailed for 10 years if performing an abortion because of a patient's objections to the race or gender of the fetus. The state House Special Judiciary Committee initially passed the measure by a 7-6 vote, with two abstentions, but it was rejected by the House Rules Committee. The bill was sent back to the first committee for more work. According to "Political Insider," the bill is the state's first "major confrontation over abortion in five years." The bill was brought up after the start of a controversial billboard campaign in Georgia that claims "black children are an endangered species" (Galloway, "Political Insider," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/13).

~ Virginia: A bill (SB 18) that would create an abortion-rights license plate in Virginia has been sent to Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) for his signature, the AP/Washington Examiner reports. The bill -- which passed the Senate 22-15 and the House 64-30 -- would create a "Trust Women/Respect Choice" license plate. Planned Parenthood would receive $15 from each $25 plate after the first 1,000 plates are sold. Supporters have threatened to sue if the plate is rejected because a "Choose Life" plate was passed in 2009, with proceeds going to crisis pregnancy centers. Federal courts have said that states are not allowed to favor one viewpoint over another. McDonnell has said he does not support Planned Parenthood. He has 30 days to sign, amend or veto the bill, the AP/Examiner reports (AP/Examiner, 3/13).

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