newsminer.com

A bill that would require parental consent for minors seeking an abortion is moving from House Judiciary to the Finance Committee. Sponsored by Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, and endorsed by Gov. Sarah Palin, the bill has generated impassioned testimony from people for and against. Last year the House approved a similar bill that would have allowed parents to interfere when a daughter seeks an abortion. The Senate killed the measure. House Finance is scheduled to hear the bill Wednesday afternoon, and to take two evenings of testimony from the public at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and at 5 p.m. Thursday, committee co-chairman Rep. Bill Stoltze said. He hoped to move the bill from Finance on Friday. Next step? A floor vote. Fairbanks Republicans Mike Kelly and Jay Ramras are among 11 co-sponsors in the House. House Bill 35 passed Judiciary on a five to two vote. Those in favor were Republicans Coghill, Ramras, Bob Lynn, Nancy Dahlstrom and Carl Gatto. Democratic Reps. Lindsey Holmes and Max Gruenberg opposed the bill.