Embarrasing, ain't it? Why do you think I want to see the 17th amendment repealed!
Posted on 03/06/2003 9:57:35 AM PST by nickcarraway
Gov. Bob Wise on Wednesday allowed the “informed consent” abortion bill to become law without his signature.
“While I do not feel a compelling need for this legislation, I recognize the strong majorities in both houses that have voted for this bill,” Wise said in a statement released Wednesday evening. He had until midnight to act on the bill (SB170).
Wise vetoed a similar bill last year. Had he vetoed this one, the Legislature would almost certainly have overridden the veto.
Pro-choice advocates were disappointed Wise failed to veto the bill.
“This is a sad day for the women of West Virginia and the medical community who provide services to them,” said Margaret Chapman with West Virginia Free.
“This is a bill that is redundant, extreme and puts doctors and women at risk, and creates unnecessary barriers for women seeking a medical procedure that is constitutionally protected.”
Andrew Schneider, director of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the ACLU will likely challenge the law in court, on the grounds it violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution and the equality clause of the state constitution.
“The governor’s decision to let this bill become law is a huge setback for women’s equality in the state of West Virginia,” Schneider said. “I understand it was a difficult political decision, but at the same time, constitutional equality is at stake.”
Chapman said West Virginia Free would also consider a legal challenge of the law.
“We’ve been working with attorneys this legislative session, and will continue to do so in light of this decision — or indecision,” she said.
For abortion opponents, Wise’s decision marked a major victory.
Karen Cross with West Virginians for Life said the anti-abortion group has lobbied for an informed consent law for 15 years.
“We’re relieved that the women and girls of West Virginia will be granted their rights to have all the facts about having an abortion, because this is a life-changing decision,” she said.
She said that in the new legislation, the group tried to address the issues that Wise raised in his veto message last year.
“This was supported by a overwhelming majority of both Democrats and Republicans. It’s a very moderate piece of legislation, we believe,” Cross said.
The bill passed the House on an 82-15 vote and passed the Senate by a 31-3 margin.
Chapman said provisions in the new law — including possible criminal penalties for doctors who willfully fail to comply with waiting periods and reporting requirements — are much harsher than the bill Wise vetoed last year.
“This bill is much harsher than last year’s bill. Anyone who says otherwise is not speaking the truth,” said said.
Wise spokeswoman Amy Shuler Goodwin said some of the improvements in the current law include requiring neutral, medically accurate terminology to explain the procedure and risks. The law uses the term “fetus,” for instance, where last year’s bill used the more emotionally charged phrase “unborn child.”
The law also has some provisions to protect the anonymity in court proceedings of women who have had abortions. Those provisions were not included in last year’s bill.
Wise, in his statement, noted, “While acknowledging some improvements from last year’s bill, I am still concerned this bill will expose health care providers to additional liability at a time when all of us have been working to improve the medical climate in West Virginia.”
So there you have it. Margaret Chapman wants women to be kept ignorant and uneducated. She wants women to make decisions which put their own lives at risk without them having access to complete information on the subject of that decision. Amazing.
I only ask because I didn't see the disclaimer "arch-conservative right-wing white male anti-abortionist Republican governor Bob Wise" in the article.
Wise is not living up to his name if he thinks that murdering babies has anything to do with the "medical climate."
Embarrasing, ain't it? Why do you think I want to see the 17th amendment repealed!
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