Four Maine GOP Legislators Co-Sponsor Abortion Funding Bill
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| Sen. Betheda G. Edmonds (D-Freeport) |
Maine Democrat Senate President Betheda G. (Beth) Edmonds (D-Cumberland County) is sponsoring LD 1309 "An Act To Provide Equity in Funding for Women's Health Services." The bill, which will have a public hearing later this spring, would allot over $283,000 in new spending to directly fund abortions for low-income Maine women. Maine currently does not directly fund abortions, but does give over $1 million annually to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which does provide abortions in Maine. The bill is being supported by the Family Planning Association of Maine and the Maine Women's Lobby.
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| Sen. Peter Mills with Pro-Abortion Gov. Whitman at GOP Rally |
Senate President Edmonds, for her part, at a State House press conference recently asked, "How many more deaths will it take before we realize whatever it is we're doing is not enough?" She asked this in the context of the death of women in Maine from domestic abuse, not the death of unborn children from legal abortion. The irony was not lost on League Executive Director Michael Heath, however. Heath wryly noted that at the approximate cost of $500 per abortion, the number Edmonds was looking for was, "600(deaths), if she were referring to abortion."
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| Mike Heath |
While LD 1309 is being sponsored by Edmonds, the bill already has secured bi-partisan support among Maine's legislators. Four Maine Republican legislators are co-sponsoring the bill. Included as current co-sponsors of the abortion funding bill are: State Senator Peter Mills (R-Somerset County), State Rep. Abigail Holman (R-Fayette), State Rep. Roberta M. Muse (R-Fryeburg), and State Rep. Meredith N. Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland). The Maine Republican Party Platform, adopted just last year, states "We [Maine Republicans] believe in the sanctity of life and the right of parents to be involved in the reproductive decisions of their minor children."
The Christian Civic League of Maine has publicly opposed this legislation since learning about it in December, 2006. In a recent Bangor Daily News interview, League Executive Director Mike Heath reaffirmed the League's pro-life stand stating, "It’s immoral for us to have abortion, period. To think that Christian, tax-paying [Maine] citizens will be forced to pay for abortions is absolutely unconscionable, it’s beyond wrong." The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine) has just recently agreed with Heath and the League's position, stating they will also oppose the bill.
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