Senate OKs Curb on Interstate Abortions for Minors

The Republican-backed bill criminalizes travel to evade parental consent. Rights advocates say it's fuel for rallying supporters.

Noam N. Levey, Times Staff Writer
July 26, 2006

WASHINGTON — Acting to further chip away at abortion rights ahead of the fall congressional elections, Senate Republicans on Tuesday pushed through legislation making it a federal crime to evade parental consent laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions.

The 65-34 Senate vote — which came just a week after a controversial bill on stem cell research divided several leading Republicans from their anti-abortion base — gave the party another plank for its "values" agenda.

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Am I missing something here? I know I'm supposed to be looking at the big picture... how the right-wing nut-jobs are hacking away at abortion rights. But it seems to me that this is a given. (Both) parents should have full say in matters relating to their children, period! I thought taking someone's child across state lines without permission was already a crime. Am I wrong here?

Anonymous