The House of Representatives Wednesday rejected, by a vote of 49-107, Gov. Charlie Baker’s suggested changes to an amendment to the fiscal year 2021 budget bill which expands abortion.
“The amendment stands despite the objection of the governor,” said Rep. Paul J. Donato, D-Medford after reporting the vote.
The next step is for the Senate to take up the amendment. If it also rejects the changes, the amendment would return to the governor. He could accept it or veto it.
State Rep. Sheila C. Harrington, R-Groton, spoke in favor of adopting the governor’s amendment, saying, among other things that a 16-year-old is too vulnerable to be making the decision to obtain an abortion.
State Rep. Claire Cronin, D-Easton, opposed the amendment and said that since the state’s age of consent to engage in sexual relations is 16, that should apply to making the decision whether or not to have an abortion.
They were the only speakers on the matter.
The governor objected to lowering the age of consent to 16; sought stricter standards on when a woman could get an abortion after 24 weeks and wanted “penalties (loss of license and fines) for those in the abortion industry who violate the provisions of the law,” said James F. Driscoll, executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference.
Last weekend Gov. Baker returned the amendment to the Legislature with suggested changes. On Tuesday House Speaker Robert DeLeo signaled that the House would reject the governor’s suggestions.
Speaker DeLeo said in a statement that the “House will act to overturn the Administration’s amendment, which sought to erode the reproductive health protections the Legislature last month voted to put in place for Massachusetts.”
Mr. Driscoll, the public policy representative for the bishops in the four dioceses in the state, said the governor’s recommended changes that would bring the age of consent back up 18 years. However, since the governor did agree to the other provisions of the amendment which would expand abortion in Massachusetts if enacted, the bishops spoke out.
“The consistent teaching of the Catholic Church is that life begins at conception and ends with natural death. As the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts, we at all times hold firm to that teaching so as to promote the preservation of life and to create a culture of respect for life as the foundation of a just and moral society.
“Today, we are deeply disappointed at the recent legislative action that, if enacted, would expand access to abortion in Massachusetts. The direct, intentional taking of a human life, regardless of the purpose or circumstances, is not morally acceptable and is particularly harmful to the common good. Most troubling is the fact that under these provisions, women will have greater access to late term abortions throughout the term of their pregnancy with no specific statutory requirement that a physician utilize lifesaving medical equipment if a child is born alive.
“Despite our disappointment we are hopeful that the full Legislature accepts the language proposed by the Governor to retain eighteen as the age of consent, as provided by the current Massachusetts law, and not reduce the age to sixteen. Clearly, a young girl of age sixteen needs the guidance and support of a caring adult when considering the possibility of a decision that will affect her for the rest of her life.
“We remain committed to life and pray for the end to all abortions. Our society is best served by the protection of every person’s life, including those waiting to be born and those approaching natural death. We pledge ourselves to work to bring about a more just society that offers humane and effective alternatives for women facing a crisis or difficult pregnancy.”
The statement was signed by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., Archbishop of Boston; Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester and Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of Fall River. At the time Bishop McManus was also representing the Springfield Diocese.