Smith on Choice
Smith Voted Twice For Parental Notification Laws. Smith voted to make it a federal crime to take a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion in order to circumvent state parental notification and consent laws. The Child Custody Protection Act would make criminals of grandparents, adult siblings, and even clergy members for helping young women obtain medical care that is legal – even if that person does not intend, or even know, that the home state parental-involvement law has not been followed. [Vote #263, Vote 216, 7/25/06; 9/29/06; American Medical Women’s Association Letter, 7/19/06]
Voted to Allow Violent Anti-Abortion Protestors to Avoid Fines Through Bankruptcy. In 2005, Smith voted to allow violent protestors, including anti-abortion activists, to escape court-ordered fines or judgments by filing for bankruptcy protection. The proposal "grew out of a 1994 federal law that bans the use of force, threats or blockades to keep patients out of abortion clinics. The law allows clinics to sue protesters who block clinic doors, but some protesters have filed for bankruptcy to escape paying court-imposed fines." [Vote 28, 3/8/05; New York Times, 3/8/05]
Smith Voted Twice To Recognize Fetuses as Separate Victims in Federal Crimes. In 2004, Smith cast the deciding vote against an amendment that would have given federal prosecutors the option of charging defendants with separate offenses for federal crimes against pregnant women that interrupt their pregnancies. This amendment differed from the GOP alternative because it would have given prosecutors that power without establishing a distinct legal status for fetuses. After the amendment failed, Senate Republicans voted for the bill that would make it a criminal offense to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent crime. [Vote 61, 3/25/04; Vote 63, 3/25/04; CQ Today, 3/25/04]
Smith Voted Against Allowing Overseas Military Facilities To Provide Privately-Funded Abortions. In 2003, Smith voted against an amendment that would allow overseas military facilities to provide privately-funded abortions for women who are in the military or are military dependents. [Vote 192, 5/22/03]
Smith Twice Voted For the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. In 2003, Smith voted to pass a bill that would ban partial-birth abortions. The bill would prohibit doctors from partially delivering a fetus and then committing an "overt act" to kill it. Abortion-rights advocates contend the bill was vague enough to outlaw other forms of abortions as well, particularly those performed in the second trimester. Senate Republicans also voted for the Conference Report on the partial birth ban, which would have allowed the procedure only to save the life of the mother and was described by the AP as placing "the first limitations on a constitutional right since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision." [Vote 51, 3/13/03; Charlotte Observer, 3/14/03; Vote 402, 10/21/03; AP, 10/21/03]
Smith Twice Voted Against an Amendment To Add Health Exception To Partial-Birth Ban. In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to add a health exception to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. The amendment would have made illegal abortions conducted after viability. The attending physician would have to determine if the fetus was viable. The amendment was rejected 35-60. [Vote 49, 3/12/03; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/12/03 Vote 46, 3/12/03]
Smith Voted Against Reaffirming Roe v. Wade. In 2003, Senate Republicans voted against a resolution reaffirming the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, which made abortions legal, saying it "secures an important constitutional right" and should not be overturned. Sen. Smith (R) said he disagreed with the 1973 ruling, but he called it “the law of the land, and I'm not going to change that.” [Vote 48, 3/12/03; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/12/03; Star Tribune, 3/14/03]
Posted June 15, 2007 Choice 1 comments
Comments
Thank you for posting this information on Smith's record on choice. Oregonians, in 2006, overwhelmingly voted against government mandated parental notification laws by 10%. We understand that not every family is a model family and that victims of abuse should not have to go to court to get the medical care they need. And yet Gordon Smith, repeatedly, misrepresents our State due to his personal "Mormon" beliefs. He has voted with an anti-choice minority since he was elected. Gordon Smith is not a Senator that represents his State, he is a Senator that represents himself. He comes home and advertises one thing, and them flies back to Washington and does another.
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