SENATE REJECTS ANTI-CHOICE BILLS

Bills would roll back women’s rights

AUGUSTA—Today, the Senate rejected three anti-choice bills that would have infringed upon women’s right to privacy in healthcare decisions.

“Every woman has a constitutional right to make personal decisions about what is best for her in consultation with her doctor, her family, her faith, and free from government intrusion,”  said Senator Linda Valentino of Saco, the Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

LD 760 would interfere with a woman’s right to have an abortion by scripting what doctors say to patients seeking an abortion. Maine law already requires informed consent for every medical procedure, and the bill was defeated in a 21-14 vote.

“As policy makers we should not be putting ourselves between a doctor and a patient. That is not our role,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond.

LD 1339 would repeal Maine’s successful adult involvement law and instead, require strict parental consent before a minor could have an abortion. The bill would force minors to go to court or report their parents for abuse in order to bypass the strict parental consent mandate. It was defeated 24-11.

“Not every young woman who becomes pregnant is as lucky as the ones who can involve their parents in the decision to seek an abortion. Not every young woman lives in a family that is safe,” said Senator Colleen Lachowicz of Waterville. “The current law works. It is not broken.”

Lachowicz who also works as a social worker added, “And I will not vote to further traumatize young women who have been abused by creating a dangerous and destructive barrier.”

LD 1193 would establish a fetus as a legal entity separate and distinct from the woman who carries it. These so called “personhood” measures have been defeated in three state referendums, and the bill was defeated in a vote of 20-15 today.

“This bill threatens the autonomy of pregnant women and undermines Roe v. Wade by conveying legal rights to the fetus separate from the pregnant woman,” said Senator Valentino. “Furthermore, Maine already provides criminal and civil remedies under the law for harm to a pregnant woman causing damage to or loss of her pregnancy.”

The bills were defeated by the House yesterday.

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