Michigan Passes Parental Consent Abortion Bill

A measure to require girls to obtain parental consent for an abortion sailed through the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday, but abortion-rights activists pledged a quick counterattack.

The measure requires unmarried girls 17 and younger to have permission from a parent or a judge to get an abortion. It will become law 90 days after the last legislative session in December, taking effect about April 1.

The Legislature approved an identical bill earlier this year, but Gov. James J. Blanchard vetoed it. Right To Life of Michigan then gathered about 330,000 signatures to put it back before the Legislature, which took less than five hours to approve the measure.

Because it began with a petition drive, Blanchard cannot veto the latest version.

Barbara Listing, president of Right To Life of Michigan, said it would encourage sexually active teen-agers to use birth control. Girls who do become pregnant will be able to get help, guidance and support from their families in deciding what to do, she added.

State Rep. Maxine Berman denounced the bill as “a mean-spirited shame. A lot of teen-agers are going to find themselves in horrible positions because of this.”

Katherine Spillar, national coordinator for the Fund for a Feminist Majority, said laying the groundwork for a repeal effort will start immediately.

“We will be organizing the outrage and the anger. We know it’s an uphill battle here,” she said.