FRIST BOWS TO FAR-RIGHT PRESSURE GROUPS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2006
Contact: Ted Miller, 202.973.3032 Frist Bows to Far-Right Pressure Groups Anti-choice Senate leadership bypasses process to push vote on divisive measure to give President Bush a chance to sign a bill to satisfy his restless right-wing base before the elections Washington, DC—Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s desperate push to hold a vote on the “Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act” (CIANA) a clear example of how Americans’ priorities are taking a back seat to Frist’s attempts to pacify his right-wing base before election day. Frist’s push for this divisive and controversial anti-choice bill, passed by the House but never considered before by the Senate, would virtually eliminate young women’s right to choose through a confusing patchwork of rules and regulations with no exceptions to protect women’s health. “Pro-choice Americans believe that teens in trouble should talk to their parents, and thankfully, most do. However, if they can’t, for whatever reason, their safety is the most important thing,” Keenan said. “By trying to bypass the Senate’s process, Frist is once again demonstrating to what lengths he will go to make the extreme right-wing base happy—even if it means jeopardizing young women’s safety. Frist wants to throw out the rule book to push this divisive and dangerous measure through the Senate. That means no hearings or opportunities for other senators to offer amendments or engage in the kind of thoughtful debate that Americans expect and deserve.” Keenan noted that, after the House vote on Tuesday, anti-choice leaders like Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, issued a demand to Frist, saying, “This is the only pro-life legislation considered by Congress this session, and the Senate must get it done.” Buckling under the pressure, Frist said he wants the Senate to vote on CIANA before adjourning for the elections. President Bush long ago pledged to sign this bill, which has been on the right-wing’s to-do list for years, but never considered by the Senate, either on the floor or in committee. “This vote is a clear sign of why elections matter,” Keenan said. “We will do everything possible to make sure voters know the best way to end these divisive attacks is to elect more pro-choice members of the House and Senate. Otherwise, Congress will continue to push politically charged and dangerous bills instead of focusing on Americans’ priorities.” Facts on the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act It would impose an impossibly complex patchwork of parental-involvement laws on women and doctors across the country, making it practically impossible for young women to access abortion care in another state. Because only 13 percent of U.S. counties have an abortion provider, for many young women the closest provider is in a neighboring state.
It would impose criminal penalties on any adult other than a parent – including a grandparent, aunt, or religious counselor – who accompanies a young woman for abortion care in another state. This bill has no exception for teens who turn to another responsible adult because of violence at home, or in situations of rape or incest.
Not only is the bill unconstitutional, it would impose criminal penalties on doctors who make an honest or inadvertent mistake in complying with one of the many complicated provisions.###
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