Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050335
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
But the historic action was less than the decisive victory sought by abortion-rights opponents, who wanted all girls younger than 18 covered by the restriction.
By reducing the age limit by two years, the Senate exempted from the notice requirement an estimated 75 percent of school-age girls who have abortions.
"It's a bittersweet victory," said Beth York, chief lobbyist for the Virginia Society for Human Life. "We're delighted to finally have had a breakthrough in the Senate, but we hoped all minors would be included in the legislation. I guess the fight is never over."
The action means that some form of parental-notice bill likely will get to the desk of Gov. Douglas Wilder. The governor campaigned in support of parental notice in 1989 but has not taken a stand on a specific bill.
The House last month passed a stricter bill requiring physicians to notify parents before performing abortions on girls younger than 18. It now must decide whether to accept the lower age cutoff.
Sixteen states already have parental consent or notification laws for minors seeking abortions.
Abortion-rights advocates, though relieved by the loophole left in the bill, nevertheless were outraged that the Senate passed any restrictions at all.
"I'm pretty disappointed that the Senate turned away from its longstanding policy of protecting all minors," said Emily McCoy, a lobbyist for the National Organization for Women. "This is clearly an anti-abortion measure and it could be the first step to outlawing all abortion rights in Virginia."
The bill requires physicians to notify parents before performing abortions on unmarried girls under 16. Girls fearing retribution could bypass their parents by receiving permission from a juvenile court judge.
Advocates say the legislation would promote good family relations and give parents a greater role in assuring proper health care for their children. Opponents say the bill would drive children unable to talk to their parents into depression, unwanted pregnancies and suicides.
Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer tried Wednesday to override a maneuver by supporters to attach the measure to a mundane bill. Ruling that the amendment was out of order, he was overturned by a 21-19 vote, with all but one of the Senate's 18 Republicans bucking him.
In a last-ditch effort to water down the bill, Democrats supporting abortion rights proposed reducing the age requirement. The Senate deadlocked when two Republicans - Warren Barry of Fairfax and Charles R. Hawkins of Chatham - refused to vote. Both later said they had reservations about the bill.
Beyer broke the tie by voting to lower the age limit.
"It's pretty obvious I didn't like the bill to begin with," Beyer said. "By moving from 18 to 16, we're protecting most of the girls that would be affected."
YEA OR NAY\ ON REQUIRING PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE AN ABORTION\ \ IN FAVOR: Sens. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke; Virgil Goode, D-Rocky Mount; Frank Nolen, D-New Hope; Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield; Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle; William Wampler, R-Bristol.\ \ OPPOSED: Sens. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville; Elliot Schewel, D-Lynchburg
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB