Massachusetts Governor Romney Will Veto Morning After Pill Bill

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 25, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Massachusetts Governor Romney Will Veto Morning After Pill Bill Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 25, 2005

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) — Continuing to try to raise up his pro-life credentials in advance of the 2008 presidential primaries, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will veto a bill that would have made the state the latest to allow women to get the morning after pill over the counter.

Romney told House and Senate leaders that he vetoed the bill because he promised in his campaign for governor that he would not change the state’s abortion laws. The morning after pill is a drug that sometimes works as an abortion drug by preventing the development of a newly-conceived unborn child.

"[I] promised the people of Massachusetts that as Governor I would not change the laws of the Commonwealth as they relate to abortion," Romney indicated.

The state legislature passed the measure with a veto-proof vote in both the House and the Senate. If both chambers override the veto, it would be the second time they have done so on legislation pro-life advocates opposed.

Earlier, Romney vetoed legislation to promote unproven embryonic stem cell research.

The morning after pill bill would require hospital emergency rooms to offer the drug to rape victims and would allow Massachusetts women to purchase it at a pharmacy without first visiting a doctor.

Seven other states have approved sales of the morning after pill over the counter. Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Washington allow the morning after pill to be purchased without a prescription.

Canada has also made the sometimes abortion drug Plan B available over the counter without a prescription and Vermont and Oregon are considering similar proposals.