Bill to Prohibit Use of State Funds for Abortions Fails to Make Ballot

This is the second consecutive failed attempt, having gathered only 70,000 signatures in 2012. Bill to Prohibit Use of State Funds for Abortion's Fails to Make Ballot

Proponents of a constitutional amendment to change long standing Oregon law by prohibiting the use of state funds for abortion services admitted in an e-mail to supporters yesterday that they could not generate enough support to gather the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. Photo: Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Proponents of a constitutional amendment to change long standing Oregon law by prohibiting the use of state funds for abortion services admitted in an e-mail to supporters yesterday that they could not generate enough support to gather the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot.

"With a total of about 95,000 signatures in our hands now, we are well short of our goal of 150,000," chief petitioner Jeff Jimerson wrote to his supporters. Oregon law requires a minimum of 116,284 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

This is Jimerson's second consecutive failed attempt, having gathered only 70,000 signatures in 2012. Similar measures qualified for the Oregon ballot and were soundly defeated by voters in 1978 and 1986.

"Oregon voters have proven once again that they are committed to protecting access to health care for all women in our state, and they saw that this vague and confusing proposal posed a real threat to that," said Michele Stranger-Hunter, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon.

Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, added: "With no exception to protect a woman's health, this amendment would have denied needed health care to women facing serious health issues, like cancer or severe fetal deformities. It would have taken difficult, personal medical decisions out of the hands of women and their medical providers."

The Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon is a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to protecting women's access to health care in the State.

Members include Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, and ACLU of Oregon.

Source: Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon