CONCORD – The House voted today by the necessary two-thirds majority to override Gov. John Lynch’s veto of a parental notification law that requires an abortion provider to notify a parent 48 hours before performing an abortion on a minor.
Lynch is a decent governor and I believe he’s at least partially responsible for keeping unemployment relatively low in our state (although my husband, like many others, have found work in MA). But his protest that the parental notification bill was unconstitutional because it didn’t provide exceptions for rape, incest, or emergency situations is completely unfounded — the bill was crafted specifically to avoid those snags. The Supreme Court has been really clear that it’s constitutional to require parental notification (not consent!!! Just notification!!! In a state where minors cannot get a fake tan or take an aspirin at school without parental consent).
And that’s why I vote for Republicans. Gutless, unreliable, ineffectual Republicans. Because they’re just like anyone else: when there’s enough of them, they find the courage to do what they know they ought to do. I honestly thought this pro-life wave would peter out after the midterm elections were over, but for whatever reason (coughlilarosecough), it seems to be gaining momentum. Amazing times.
