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Source: Associated Press; March 27, 2003
Oregon House Supports Right to Know Measure
Salem, OR -- Oregon House Republicans lined up solidly Thursday
behind a bill that would require abortion practitioners to provide
women with information about abortion risks and alternatives 24
hours prior to performing the abortion. However, the proposal would
face an almost certain veto by pro-abortion Gov. Ted Kulongoski
(D).
And that's only if HB2547 makes it that far; pro-abortion lobbyists
said they would try to stymie its progress in the Senate.
"We are going to be working to keep this bill from getting" any
committee action in the Senate, said Maura Roche, a lobbyist for
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Oregon.
A total of 34 Republicans voted for the bill, sponsored by Rep.
Betsy Close, R-Albany, with 22 Democrats opposed.
The bill also would require abortion practitioners to give women
information about the possible consequences, adoption, and fetal
development. Similar pro-life bills in other states have proven
successful in reducing the number of abortions.
It's the single proposal now being pushed in this legislative session
by the powerful Oregon Right to Life, Oregon's leading pro-life
organization. The group, which donates heavily to pro-life candidates,
had initially planned to present a raft of proposals. The plan was
scaled back after it became clear that Kulongoski would exercise
his veto on pro-life bills.
Close said her decision to introduce the bill came not from any
particular constituent but from her own experiences working at a
family planning center. "I would see women traumatized and upset,"
she said. "I think women in a crisis situation deserve to know what
they are getting into."
Backers of the bill cast it as a matter of giving women as much
information as possible before they make a significant decision,
and plenty of time to consider what they've been told.
"Knowledge and information is a good thing," said Rep. Vic Backlund,
R-Keizer. "We should not strive to keep anyone in the dark on any
issue."
But opponents said the bill's lasting effect would be to chip away
at existing abortion laws.
ACTION: Go to http://www.leg.state.or.us/senate/senateset.htm to
find contact information for your Oregon State Senator and please
urge strong support of the Women's Right to Know Bill.
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