Public Health Issues Took Center Stage in Election

Oregon's measure 43 would have required a physician to provide written notice to a parent of an unemancipated minor age 15 and older at least 48 hours before providing the abortion. Under current law, parental consent for an abortion is required for minors younger than 15.

Lois Uttley, director of the MergerWatch Project, a group that advocates for greater access to reproductive health services, told this news organization that in an ideal world, girls would seek parental advice, but mandating parental involvement can lead to abuse. Instead, age-appropriate sex education, which includes both abstinence education and birth control, are more appropriate answers, said Ms. Uttley, who is the chair of the APHA Action Board.

“Good family communication unfortunately cannot be imposed by the government,” she said.

Minimum Wage

Minimum wage hikes passed in all six states where they were proposed, raising the minimum wage as high as $6.85 per hour in Ohio and Colorado.

The federal minimum wage is set at $5.15 per hour but about half the states have higher minimum wage laws. Washington state has the highest minimum wage among the states at $7.63 per hour, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Voters raised the minimum wage to $6.50 in Missouri, $6.15 in Montana, $6.75 in Arizona, $6.85 in Ohio, and $6.85 in Colorado. In Nevada, voters approved a measure to make the minimum wage $5.15 per hour if the employer provides health insurance and $6.15 per hour if the employer does not. This measure was passed by voters in 2004 but under Nevada law must be passed in two consecutive elections since it amends the constitution.