While issues on foreign shores capture headlines, the right to choice debate continues here in Maryland. On Monday, March 11th, Nancy Lineman, Executive Director of the Maryland chapter of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, led a group of 18 members to lobby against two proposed bills in Annapolis.

The bills are set to go to committee in the House of Delegates on March 12th and 19th. House Bill 581, "The Women's Heath Protection Act," would require an 18-hour waiting period before any abortion. This would make abortion the only medical procedure in Maryland the requires a waiting period.

"We believe that only causes abortion to happen later in pregnancy, which is dangerous to women's health,"said Lineman. "When a waiting was imposed in Mississippi, second trimester abortion rose 17 percent," she added.

The bill, if enacted, would also require that women seeking an abortion receive printed information on fetal development.

The other anti-choice bill to go in front of committee is House Bill 836. "The Parental Rights Act Of 2002" would mandate all people under 15 years of age to get parental consent before obtaining treatment or advice for drug abuse, alcoholism, sexually transmitted disease,
contraception, pregnancy, or rape. In a worst case scenario, an abusive parent could stop a child from seeking help. The bill also may encourage ignorance, stopping teens in need of help from seeking information. Of course, when help is not sought treatment can not start, and some teens
might feel forced to forgo treatment all together.

While 18 NARAL members may not sound like a huge turnout, those who came out and spoke represented 18 different districts and seemed passionately involved with their local government. Their voices were heard and--let's hope--counted.