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Abortion bill debate hits home House backs parental notification BY PETER WONG SALEM -- For two Southern Oregon lawmakers Thursday, the political debate over a requirement for parental notification before teenage girls can obtain abortions became very personal. But the political conclusions reached on House Bill 2633 by Rep. Judy Uherbelau, a Democrat from Ashland, and Rep. Carl Wilson, a Republican from Grants Pass, could not have been more different. Formerly a practicing nurse who maintains her registered-nurse status in California, Uherbelau has two unmarried daughters in their 20s, Angela and Becca. Becca has been her legislative assistant this session and last, and Angela has returned to work part time for her for the rest of this session. "I would think our relationship is such that if this occurred with them, they would come to me -- and I think they would have," she said. "However, if they had not, I would have respected that. "I think we have to respect our young women. We have to create an environment in which they feel free to come to us. But if they do not, for whatever reason, I think we should not have a punitive or frightening procedure they have to go through. "Believe me, for these young women, this is a most emotional and difficult time -- I worked with them for years -- and they need support, not threats." Uherbelau was the floor manager for a substitute that would have required doctors to encourage teenagers to talk with a parent or guardian about their pregnancies. But it also would have given doctors more leeway to bypass notice to a parent if abuse could result, or if it was in the best interests of the teenager. But the substitute failed, 32-28. It attracted only two Republicans, including Rep. Rob Patridge of Medford, plus all 25 Democrats and the lone independent. The House then voted for the main version of the bill, 34-26, along party lines, and planned today a final vote that would move it to the Senate. A similar bill was passed by the Senate but rejected by the House in 1995. Gov. John Kitzhaber, a former emergency-room physician who threatened to veto that bill, is likely to veto a similar bill this time. Wilson said Thursday's debate took on a different dimension when he learned recently that he will become a grandfather later this year. His son, J.L., is an aide to House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass, R-Boring, and his daughter-in-law, Heather, works for Wilson. He said his wife, Malinda, already has begun to shop for baby clothes. He said he has had the opportunity to see and hear the heartbeat of his grandchild. "In the unfortunate clamor to make abortion readily available, let us not forget that abortion does stop a beating heart," he said. "I have seen it on the screen. Is it really too much to ask that a young woman be asked to notify her parents prior to the taking of that child? "I do think that any procedure as serious as abortion should not be done by a minor in relative secrecy." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA