Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 16, 1992 TAG: 9203160106
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
But Wilder told The Washington Post that he may propose amendments to the "parental notice" measure rather than vetoing it outright, the Post reported unday. Wilder's comments marked a slight toughening in his
skepticism about the legislation, which would require unmarried girls under 18 to tell one of their parents before getting an abortion. Those who feared retribution from angry parents could petition a judge instead.
The governor hinted at a possible veto shortly after the bill was passed March 6, but suggested there was as much chance he would sign it as reject it. The Post said Wilder told it he has doubts in particular about the effectiveness of the judicial-bypass provisions. Any amendments he might propose would have to be submitted to legislators in a mid-April "veto session."
Wilder was besieged last week by mail and telephone pleas concerning the legislation. Abortion opponents have fought for a decade for parental-notice provisions and describe their battle as the warm-up for efforts to get abortions banned entirely if the Supreme Court overturns its Roe vs. Wade decision.
Wilder, who was elected in part based on his strong support for abortion rights, also campaigned in favor of parental notice. In both stands, polls suggest, he mirrored a majority of state voters who favor legal abortions but believe that parents should be involved when teen-agers seek to terminate pregnancies.
As a state senator in the 1970s and early '80s, Wilder voted on both sides of the notice issue.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB