How I’m voting for the environment on Nov. 7, 2006.

My vote on Prop 85: NO!

Prop 85 — which seeks to require parental permission for minors to get abortions — is pretty much exactly the same as Prop 73, which we Californians successfully defeated last year.

Why’s it up for vote again? Well, the fundies behind 85 just changed some controversial wording — Prop 73 woulda put into the state Constitution wording that implies life begins at conception. Prop 85 takes that out — but still poses the same threat to teens.

On the upside, sort of, I’ve already done all the research on this issue for my post about Prop 73 — which is here. So — The same info still stands, since it’s just a mere year later. [Update: Here's a moving editorial from the SF Chronicle outlining the major reasons you should vote no. (Thnx Larry)]

We have some good groups opposing this bill: Besides some of the obvious, like CA NOW and League of Women Voters, we have the California Nurses Association, PowerPAC, and Cal Labor. Pretty much all the MSM newspapers are against it.

So Erin asked in a comment about the enviro implications re: Prop 85. I hadn’t actually thought of these myself, so I was glad Erin offered some suggestions: “overpopulation and overuse of resources is an environmental – even if controversial – issue. Also, teens seeking abortions who are unwilling to tell their parents are likely to travel further – over state lines or to Tijuana – in order to get services.”

Also, you’ll be glad to know that the Sierra Club’s anti-85 too.

The No on 85 campaign page is here :)

Update, 10/6/06: If you’re free tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, then you might wanna go to the volunteer training and door to door voter contact in neighborhoods in the Eagle Rock, Silver Lake and South Pasadena Area between 9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Email Regina Clemente at regina.clemente@pp-la.org for more info :)

Update, 10/27/06: The No on 85 campaign’s launched a TV ad: Think outside your bubble.

Update, 11/4/06: Dirty tactics of an anti-choice group: Salon’s expose on how the scary people behind Prop 85 are using illegally-made recordings to try and pass this misguided parental notification proposition.

Update, 11/6/06: A moving op-ed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA): “This initiative does nothing to help the over 70% of teens who already involve their parents in these decisions, but it puts at risk the vulnerable teens who should be our highest priority.”

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