Florida Gov. Rick Scott Holds Pro-Life Bill Signing Ceremony

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 1, 2011   |   4:27PM   |   Tallahassee, FL

A changing of the guard in the governor’s mansion in Florida made it so pro-life advocates could enjoy a bill signing ceremony with Governor Rick Scott — whereas pro-abortion Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed pro-life bills.

But Scott, who already signed four pro-life pieces of legislation into law, held a ceremony for pro-life advocates who have worked hard for years to get measures into law that would protect women and unborn children. Dozens of pro-life advocates attended the event in Tallahassee along with key pro-life state legislators like Matt Gaetz, Rachel Burgin, Dennis Baxley, Larry Ahern, Elizabeth Porter, Kelli Stargel and Keith Perry.

“A lot of people put a lot of effort into these things. I think they want to have an event to memorialize it,” the governor told the Miami Herald. “For these bills, a lot of these people have worked on these bills for years and years, and it’s a way for them to celebrate the accomplishments.”

The pro-life bills allow women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn children beforehand, help tighten the parental notification law to avoid abuse, prohibit insurance plans under Obamacare from paying for abortions with taxpayer funds, and redirect funding for Choose Life license plates to the best agencies to help women find abortion alternatives.

“You should have the opportunity to see an ultrasound of your child,” Scott said. “It’s your choice. You don’t have to. This creates choice. I think it’s very positive.”

“It would be hard to top this session for the pro-life cause. We had great success,” Gaetz told the newspaper.

Florida Right to Life also applauded the governor for reaching out to pro-life groups and legislators. The organization endorsed him in the 2010 general election in which the Republican won.

Florida Right to Life president Carrie Eisnaugle told LifeNews that the “ceremonial bill signing of pro-life laws passed during the 2010 legislative session marks a moment in time to reward the hard work and efforts of all pro-lifers in the State of Florida.”

“The four bills included in today’s bill signing include legislation that will strengthen parents’ rights with respect to teens seeking abortion, prohibit certain health insurance policies from providing abortion coverage, re-direct funds from Choose Life License Plates so they will be used as originally intended, and allow women to see an ultrasound of their baby before an abortion,” she said.

“We are thankful to the Florida Legislature and Governor Scott for their dedication to these bills,” the FRTL president continued. “After years of effort, with many near victories that have ended in disappointment, we are so thrilled that the ultrasound legislation will finally take effect in Florida. We are also encouraged to know that abortions will not be recognized as “health care” by the State of Florida, that the parental notification laws have been strengthened to protect parents’ rights and the lives of young girls, and that the funds from Choose Life license plates will more easily be used as intended. We have no doubt this legislation will save countless lives for many years to come.”