Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALEC KLEIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
It took the vote of one woman in the House of Delegates to tip the balance Wednesday in favor of a bill protecting patients' access to abortion clinics.
Del. Anne Rhodes, R-Richmond, the only Republican to break ranks with her party, joined Democrats to defeat a series of amendments that supporters said would have scuttled the bill. The GOP amendments failed by one vote - 50 to 49.
"I think it sends a message as much as anything else," Rhodes said of the bill after an emotionally charged debate. "We simply don't tolerate the violent aspects of it, on either side. Peaceful demonstrations, efforts to education, or persuasion, I don't think are endangered by this bill.
`` ... Though my party felt very strongly on this, they did not [apply pressure] and respected my position.''
Although the bill survived House debate Wednesday, it still faces several hurdles. The House must take a final vote in what is typically a routine action. Then the bill must win Senate approval, where it faces more uncertainty, said Del. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, one of its leading opponents.
"The key to this bill is that it's been so poorly drafted," Forbes said. "Certainly, there's an opportunity for the Senate to put the bill in better form."
House conservatives are leery of any legislation that can be interpreted as favoring abortion. Del. Andy Guest, R-Front Royal, warned his colleagues that the clinic-access bill would give people seeking abortions more protection than people trying to vote.
Forbes had introduced three Republican-backed amendments to eliminate references in the bill to health care facilities. He asserted that the same protection should apply to all facilities open to the public, not just clinics.
But Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, the bill's chief patron, argued that Forbes' amendments were so broadly defined that they would "render [the bill] constitutionally suspect."
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to dilute and undercut the bill by introducing a total of 10 amendments.
All 10 amendments failed and the bill moved a step closer to becoming law - to the relief of Del. Howard Copeland, D-Norfolk. His district includes the Hillcrest Clinic, site of a recent shootout. The suspect, John C. Salvi III, faces charges of killing two abortion clinic workers and wounding five others in Massachusetts.
"It's a frightening prospect that my neighbors, my constituents and my family could be in the line of fire," Copeland said. `` ... I always saw the need for [the bill], but the urgency is heightened."
Western Virginia legislators voting in favor of the amendments that would have made the clinic-access bill unconstitutional were Tommy Baker, R-Radford; Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount; Morgan Griffith, R-Salem; Lacey Putney, I-Bedford; and Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke.
Voting against the amendments were Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville; Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County; Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs; Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville; Roscoe Reynolds, D-Martinsville; Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg; and Woodrum.
How they voted on amendments to clinic access bill
Vote was on amendments that supporters say would have made the bill unconstitutional.
A vote for the amendment was a vote against the bill.
Yeas - 49, Nays - 50, Rule 69 - 0, Not voting - 1
Yeas
Tommy Baker, R-Radford
Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount
Morgan Griffith, R-Salem
Lacey Putney, I-Bedford
Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke
Nays
Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville
Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County
Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs
Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville
Roscoe Reynolds. D-Martinsville
Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg
Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke
In addition to Forbes', Del. Roger J. McClure, R-Centreville, offered three and Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, four.
It was difficult in that I certainly appreciate other people's feelings," she said. "
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB