LAWMAKERS REJECT ANTI-CHOICE BILLS

Bills would roll back women’s rights

AUGUSTA- This afternoon, the Judiciary Committee rejected three anti-choice bills that would have infringed upon women’s right to privacy in healthcare decisions.

“The Judiciary Committee heard overwhelming testimony against all three bills by physicians, psychiatrists, attorneys, and men and women who deal with these issues every day,”  said Senator Linda Valentino (D-Saco), the Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “They told us time and again that the current protections in the state of Maine should not be changed and that these bills were unnecessary.”

LD 760 would change Maine’s current informed consent laws, LD 1339 would repeal Maine’s successful adult involvement law and replace it with more burdensome requirements, and LD 1193 would give legal status to a fetus.

“Maine law already has informed consent and it is working well,” said Rep. Jennifer DeChant (D-Bath). “These bills would insert bias and coercion into the law. Not only are they redundant but they are also thinly veiled attempts to undermine and erode a woman’s right to choose.”

Both LD 760 and LD 1339 were defeated in 8-4 votes. LD 1193 was defeated in a 7-5 vote.

“We shouldn’t be interfering with the relationship between a woman and her doctor,” added Rep. Charlie Priest (D-Brunswick), the House chair of the committee.

The bills will now be sent to the House and Senate for further action.

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