Abortion:Democrats Used Amendments To Show Weaknesses

often have good reasons, including fear of abuse.

“There are families where it is not safe for young women to share the information with their parents,” Brown said.

Democrats showered the debate with amendments intended to point out weak points in the bill and drive a wedge between Republicans.

The amendment to require notification of the father’s parents caused the biggest headache.

Padden strongly opposed the amendment, saying it would further complicate matters for young women. “It is not always in the mother’s best interests to have the father notified,” he said.

But supporters, mostly opposed to the overall bill, said it was an issue of fairness.

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” said Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac. She sponsored the amendment, but said later that she didn’t expect it to pass.

When it did, Republicans left the House chamber in some confusion and met for two hours in a closed caucus to hammer out the differences in their own ranks.

“People have this impression that all Republicans are identical, and it’s not true,” said Maryann Mitchell, R-Federal Way, who supports abortion rights.

Ballard said the party was big enough to tolerate dissent.

“The right of this place is the right of free debate,” Ballard said. “We’ve had a lot of free debate in the caucus.”

Some of Tuesday’s amendments were offered in jest.

Parents would be given nine months advance notice of any planned abortion under an amendment offered by Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Olympia. The amendment failed overwhelmingly.

The “Buttafucco” amendment, offered by Rep. Tim Sheldon, D-Hoodsport, would have required notification of “the wife of the father of the baby, if the father is married to someone other than the mother of the baby.” It also failed.