This is one of the most controversial measures on our ballot. I am against this proposal. Proponents make heart-string-tugging arguments about how no minor should be alone when making the decision to have an abortion, and how parents have a right to know.
However, they make those arguments as if 15-to-17-year-olds were somehow PREVENTED from contacting their parents in this situation right now. That's just not true. I would be surprised if abortion providers did not ask "have you talked with your parents about this?" If the girl is consciously going through such an important procedure without the advice of her parent, then it's quite likely that she has very good reasons to exclude them. I don't see that it is the state's responsibility to second guess this, and possibly make an already bad situation even worse.
Let us make no mistake about it. This is not about protecting kids. This is just the pro-lifers pushing the envelope one more step towards a total ban on abortions. Eat it away a little bit at a time until we don't realize that the right has been completely eliminated.
No on measure 43.
