Although initiative failed in November 2005 election, supporters
are pushing to get a similar measure on this year’s November
ballot
Gilroy – The supporters of a failed initiative to require minors to notify a parent before getting an abortion are pushing to get a similar measure on the November ballot.
Last November, Proposition 73 passed in 33 counties, but failed overall, winning 47.2 percent of the vote. Of the eight ballot measures contested in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s unsuccessful special election, Prop. 73 won the most votes.
“Given the peculiarity of that election, we thought it would be foolish not to put it forward in a regular election,” said Albin Rhomberg, spokesman for Parents’ Right to Know. “We weren’t interested in being tied to his election but we were on the ballot. We got put on a train that got in a train wreck.”
Rhomberg said the measure was intended for the June 2006 ballot, but was forced on the November 2005 ballot when Schwarzenegger called the special election. This year, he said supporters will do more to combat an active opposition campaign led by Planned Parenthood.
Opponents of the measure argue that forcing teenagers to notify a parent or guardian before getting an abortion is potentially dangerous and unhealthy for young woman.
“Parental notification laws put teenagers at risk,” said Katie Desmond, of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. “Most teenagers do involve one of their parents. Those who don’t probably have a good reason. Violence, or fear of violence, pushes them to not seek the care they need in a timely matter, or, God forbid, take matters into their own hands.”
More than 30 states have laws requiring minors to notify or get consent from their parents before getting an abortion. California has one on the books, but it was declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.
The effect of those laws is not well known, but a study of six states published recently in the New York Times suggested they have virtually no impact on abortion rates.
A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute praised California for reducing unwanted pregnancies by increasing access to contraception through public policy and education efforts.
“The Guttmacher is really interesting,” Desmond said. “Those are the policies that are important to reducing unintended pregnancies in adults and adolescents. These are the policies we should be actively pursuing if we’re really concerned about the issues.”
