Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 5, 1992 TAG: 9201050077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
NEW ROSTER ALTERS ABORTION FIGHT
For months in anticipation of the General Assembly's opening gavel, abortion-rights foes and advocates have been girding for the perennial fight over abortion restrictions.And thanks to last November's elections, Virginians can expect new intensity in the debate on bills that would require a parent's consent or notification before an unwed minor can get an abortion.
The major difference this year is the new makeup of the Senate - 18 Republicans and 22 Democrats. The GOP had only 10 seats last year.
Beth York, state legislative committee chairman of the Virginia Society for Human Life, said anti-abortion-rights forces will have a "comfortable majority" if a parental notification bill gets to the Senate floor.
But the true wild card, both sides acknowledge, will be how such legislation is treated in key committees, such as the Senate Education and Health Committee, which may have a dramatically different composition and persuasion this year.
The Senate panel, which has been responsible for shooting down parental notification and other abortion restrictions in past sessions, lost its chairman and four other Democratic members to retirement and ballot-box defeat. New assignments have not yet been made.
Gov. Douglas Wilder, whose 1989 election victory hinged partly on his position that government shouldn't interfere with a woman's decision about abortion, has said he would sign a parental-notification bill should one be passed.
"We'll be fighting," said Karen A. Raschke, government relations counsel for the Association of Virginia Planned Parenthood Affiliates. The organization held a news conference last week to build early defenses against the coming legislative attack on abortion rights.
According to Raschke, the newfound GOP strength in the Senate is certain to spur attempts not only for parental notification and consent bills, but possibly for other so-called "hurdle" bills or outright restrictions on abortions.
Look for legislation that may force abortion clinics out of business, Raschke said, through tougher administrative regulations, as well as bills prohibiting abortion for "birth control" or "sex selection."
With the anti-abortion leader in the House, Del. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, turned out in November, anti-abortionists may look to freshman Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas. He is Virginia director of the American Life League and research director of the national anti-abortion organization.\ MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD:
\ Anti-abortion rights
Beth York, state legislative committee chairman, Virginia Society for Human Life, the Virginia Affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee Inc. Address: 1214 Westover Hills Blvd., Suite 209, Richmond 23225. (804) 233-5433.
Andrea Sexton, chairman, Roanoke Valley Chapter Virginia Society for Human Life. Address: P.O. Box 20762, Roanoke 24018. Phone: (703) 772-8719.\ Pro-choice
Karen A. Raschke, government relations counsel, Association of Virginia Planned Parenthood Affiliates. Address: 517 W. Grace St., Richmond 23220. (804) 783-7719.
Kathryn Haynie, executive director, Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge Inc. Address: 2708 Liberty Road N.W., Roanoke 24012. Phone: (703) 362-3968.