SENATE MAINTAINS WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE

The remaining anti-choice bills defeated by the Maine Senate

AUGUSTA – Today the Maine Senate defeated the final three measures of this legislative session that attempted to strip away a woman’s Constitutional right to choose.

“This is a victory for women and family planning,” said Senator Elizabeth Schneider of Orono. “The legislature should not be in the business of intervening between a doctor and a patient—regardless of gender.”

The first of the bills defeated, LD 116, would have required two in-person visits to an abortion provider and a 24-hour waiting period prior to an abortion. The Senate defeated it in a vote of 21 – 13 with Senate Democrats leading the charge.

“Today’s vote is a good sign that when it comes to the rights of women to make private medical decisions, the majority of Maine legislators continue to get it right,” said Senator Cynthia Dill of Cape Elizabeth and who also serves on the Judiciary Committee. “Despite a lot of ideology-driven laws this session, I’m pleased that my colleagues voted to support a woman’s constitutional right. However, I know we must be vigilant and continue to fight to protect a woman’s right to choose.”

The second measure, LD 924, would have required doctors read a biased script on the risks associated with abortions. In a vote of 24 – 10, the Senate defeated the measure.

“This bill is about scaring women. Scare tactics—not education”

The final measure, LD 1457, would require notarized parental consent for minors seeking abortions and repealing Maine’s successful adult involvement law. The measure was voted down 24 – 10.

In a recent study of states without parental notification laws, 61% of young women report that either one or both parents were aware of their abortions and 75% of those parents were informed by their daughters themselves.

“Of course, we all hope every young woman will make this decision with her family, but as we know there are times when teens just can’t talk to their parents,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Senator Justin Alfond of Portland. “This ‘one-size-fits all’ government mandate does not help keep children safe.”

One study found that one third of young women who do not notify their parents about an abortion have experienced family violence and fear it will recur.

Currently, Maine’s law encourages adult involvement law encourages family involvement in this decision while providing every young woman with the guidance and support necessary to consider and evaluate all of the options available to her. For example, if provides a teen unable to involve a parent with the option of seeking counsel from a trained professional.

A recent review of 29 studies of the impact of state parental involvement laws found that the clearest documented impact of the laws is an increase in the number of minors traveling outside of their home states to obtain abortions in states that do not mandate parental involvement. Studies that incorporate data on minors traveling out of state found no effect on the abortion rate.

The Maine House defeated the measures in a late night session on June 6.