California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has thrown his support behind a November 8 special election referendum that will severely restrict a minor's ability to get an abortion. Known as Proposition 73, the measure, if passed, would amend the state constitution and require parental notification before an abortion procedure could be performed on a minor. A mandatory 48 hour waiting period would follow the notification before a doctor could perform the procedure. Only under very limited circumstances--such as a medical emergency or if the minor receives a "judicial bypass"--could the parental notification requirement be bypassed.
The Governator's concern as a parent and for his own child is behind his support of the Proposition: "I have a daughter. I wouldn't want to have someone take my daughter to a hospital for an abortion or something and not tell me. I would kill him if they do that." Kill? C'mon Arnie, that's not a terribly Pro-life sentiment now, is it?
As expected, the Proposition has been widely opposed by politicians, abortions right's organizations and women's advocacy groups. Sen. Diane Feinstein has voiced opposition this week not only to Proposition 73, but to the entire November 8 agenda: "Feinstein believes that the special election is a mistake. It's a costly waste of taxpayer dollars," said spokesman Howard Gantman.
Sen. Barbara Boxer opposes the measure as well, expressing concern over its politically loaded wording which she believes would “set it up to overturn Roe v. Wade” in California.
NARAL Pro-choice California strongly defends a minor's need for privacy: "Despite their best intentions, parental notification laws put young women in jeopardy by placing barriers between them and safe medical care. While we hope and encourage all young women to talk with their families, there are times when teens just can’t talk with their parents. Some daughters don’t want to disappoint their parents. Other daughters know that telling their parents would get them kicked out of the house or beaten or worse. This amendment is a one-size fits all government mandate that does not help parents keep their daughters safe. No law can force a family to communicate and we believe that the government shouldn’t be in the business of forcing itself into sensitive family decisions. Parents need real solutions like honest sex ed for their teens, support for prevention programs, and access to birth control."
With his dreadful 36% approval rating and a recall movement on the rise, Schwarzenegger cannot afford yet another policy failure. Andy
4 comments:
It's true:
"No law can force a family to communicate."
This proposition was written with a certain class of people in mind. People who struggle with poverty, familial dysfunction and dispersement aren't represented here. Can you imagine a child that was kicked out or abandoned by their parents ... before a pregnancy occurred ... having to look them up after a period of estrangement to ask them to sign a permission slip?
Good one Gouda, the Republicans seem to think that all families look like the Cleavers. The Governator is trying to please the conservatives with this one. When are they going to get that not all young ladies grow up going to church on Sunday(not that I'm for that, religion can screw people up as well as save 'em), mom and dad is always there for them, and that they all want to have a husband and family?
Good one Gouda, the Republicans seem to think that all families look like the Cleavers. The Governator is trying to please the conservatives with this one. When are they going to get that not all young ladies grow up going to church on Sunday(not that I'm for that, religion can screw people up as well as save 'em), mom and dad is always there for them, and that they all want to have a husband and family?
I think that Ahnold's just going to break Bush's fall to the bottom of the barrel.
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