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2News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate
Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540
Leman Praises Legislature's Override of Veto of Parental Consent Bill
For Immediate Release: May 2, 1997 Contact: Senator Loren Leman 907/465-2095
Juneau -- Meeting in joint session this morning, the Legislature voted 40 to 19 to override Governor Knowles' veto of SB 24, which makes enforceable Alaska's parental consent law.
"Today the majority will of the Alaskan people for sound family policy prevailed over partisan politics," stated Senator Loren Leman, sponsor of Senate Bill 24. "78 percent of the Alaskan public supports requiring a parent to be involved in the abortion decision of a minor teenager. This legislation reflects the mainstream, common-sense views of the Alaskan people."
Senator Leman also criticized the Governor's reaction to the Legislature's action. "The Governor's response was to repeat his mantra that the bill is 'unconstitutional'. But just one month ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a very similar law in Montana is fully constitutional," noted Leman. "The Governor is hiding behind a smokescreen of empty constitutional arguments, attempting to give himself political cover for an unpopular decision."
"I am committed to working with our Department of Law to defend this new law against threatened legal attacks by outside interest groups," Leman stated.
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Broadcast Note: Radio Actualities are
available by calling 800/478-6540
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