The state Legislature voted Thursday to override the governor’s veto of a measure that will expand access to emergency contraception by requiring hospital emergency room doctors to offer the medication to rape victims.
The measure, which Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed in July, will also make the medication available without a prescription from pharmacies. A provision that exempted Catholic hospitals was eventually dropped from the legislation.
The Senate voted unanimously 37-0 to override the veto. In the House, the vote was 139-16 to override, far more than the two-thirds needed.
“Rape survivors will now receive the standard of care they deserve at any hospital emergency room,” said Melissa Kogut, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. “Women will have access to emergency contraception sooner, when it is most effective.”
In defending his veto, Romney said the medication, known as the “morning after pill,” is already widely available without a mandate from the state. The Republican governor said he was concerned that the hormone regimen could abort a fertilized egg.
Signing the bill, he said, would violate a campaign pledge he made not to change the state’s abortion laws. It could also alienate crucial anti-abortion activists as Romney weighs run for president in 2008.
Here in New Mexico, we also have a governor who wants to run for President. He won’t say that — yet; but, we know it, everyone knows it. He’s a little more subtle than Romney, though.
So what is the problem, Mitt? Are you so afraid of alienating some neo-con voters that you would jeopardize the health of a rape victim? Would you try to get a court order preventing a terminally ill patient from having the plug pulled too?
The effectiveness of this drug is time dependent, the sooner the better. If the time is excessive, the regimen will not work. If it does not work and the victim becomes pregnant, then an abortion becomes an alternative. Is that what you want?
Forcing a rape victim to seek out a physician to prescribe the drug is cruel. Especially after the police have taken her to a Hospital for a rape exam. Then being interviewed by for evidence.
C’mon Mitt. This is the 21st century, the use of back alley abortionists are over. Think of the victim’s health, both physical and mental instead of your own political ambitions. It is the actions like this that show the lack of leadership in this country.
So subtle means declaring an immigration emergency after previously allowing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and telling a busful of illegals that New Mexico welcomes them?
Wow! Reason trumps Religion! Amazing! Frankly, the governor just vetoed the bill because he will be running for president in 2008 and he wanted to start laying the foundation for Christian Fundie support. Man I hate politicians.
Even if you aren’t anti-abortion, I think this should bother you. In the same way that pro-abortion folks are against interfering with Doctor’s care, this bill forces a Doctor to offer a certain treatment no matter what. Even a bottle of Tylenol lists a ton of situations in which you should take it, due to side effects, etc. I’m sure that this pill has similar issues.
Also calling it a “medication” seems weird to me. What does it cure, or treat?