The Friday afternoon news dump, wherein someone tries to hide their major, super important news in the hustle and bustle and happy hours of a dawning weekend, was the tool of choice as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (NPA) announced his veto of a horrifically bad piece of Republican legislation.
Known as the “ultrasound bill,” the law would have required women seeking an abortion to first pay for and obtain an ultrasound test, in which they would either have to view the embryo or listen to a doctor describe it. Tests range from several hundred dollars to $1,500, and would effectively block the abortion option for many, if not most, women.
In his veto statement, Crist, who earlier this week signaled his intention by removing harsh anti-abortion language from his campaign web site, acknowledged a woman’s right to decide.
…personal views should not result in laws that unwisely expand the role of government and coerce people to obtain medical tests or procedures that are not medically necessary…There are many medical or fiscal barriers that could be placed upon a woman in order to prevent her from following through on her constitutionally protected decision to end a pregnancy. However, such measures do not change hearts, which is the only true and effective way to ensure that a new life coming into the world is loved, cherished, and receives the care that is deserved.
Crist’s former Republican opponent in the Senate race, Marco Rubio, was quick to exploit a Republican land mine that was placed in the bill in case the governor vetoed it.
Not only would this commonsense measure have provided women with vital information as they make a critical decision, but now Governor Crist’s veto also clears the way for taxpayer funding of abortion in Florida. This veto will now make it harder for Florida to fight Obamacare, since the bill would have enabled our state to opt out of the abortion coverage mandate in the federal health care law.
Those who support Rubio, and who oppose abortion, used the spin that not voting for the bill would clear the way for Florida to participate in provisions of the recent national health reform act that nearly derailed that legislation by allowing taxpayer funding of abortion. Which, as Crist notes, is a legal procedure.
Crist did the right thing with his veto. Had the law been allowed to go forward, it would only be matter of moments until it was challenged and it’s highly doubtful it could have been upheld.
But all this leaves me with a quandary. I said I would probably vote for Crist if he vetoed this bill. And if I felt more confident that Charlie would keep up his recent string of doing the right thing, I would. It’s still a long time until November but I have to admit, Crist is scaring me a little.
Hey Marco: There is no “abortion coverage mandate in the federal health care law.” Not now and never was. It never ceases to amaze how Republicans always have to resort to lying in order to win campaigns.
This was kind of a no-brainer. Requiring a woman to get an ultra-sound is such a disgusting infringement on a woman’s right to choose to have a child or not that only the most openly women-hating Republicans support it. Crist defended a terrible 2005 parental notification rights law before the Florida Supreme Court.
Kendrick Meek is the only candidate who consistently has upheld women’s rights throughout his career, not 0% like Rubio or 50% like Crist, but 100%. He’s the candidate that people who are concerned about woman’s rights should be supporting.
Jon,
It never ceases to amaze me that none of the “conservatives” remember the Hyde Amendment, which has been on the books for over 30 years. I think they have an aversion to research and facts because they’re driven by ideology and emotion and little else. Accurate information is a keystone of good governance in a democratic republic. There is too little/no reporting of facts in the MSM. Last year there was more emphasis on nonsense like “Balloon Boy” than there was on HCR. Most recently, the MSM was late to the game on the BP oil spill. According to Media Matters’ timeline, the president was involved since the spill occurred on April 20. He called Jackson, Salazar, and others to the WH the same day and gave them their marching orders, but if one listens to the MSM, he has been asleep at the helm. Not true. The MSM rarely does the job it is supposed to do of informing the public about what really goes on in this country. Another recent example is the over emphasis on Blumenthal’s military record and the lack of focus/reporting on Kirk who made many more false statements about his military record. Once again, Media Matters made the comparison which highlighted the media bias.
Hey Majii –
You’re right. The whole taxpayer-funded-abortions was a canard — the bill did not prevent women from using their own money to buy insurance that included abortion coverage through the exchanges — and even though the Dems knew it was a lie, they bent over backward to try to appease the liars, who, predictably, continue to lie about it and probably always will.
My question is, what percentage of women use insurance to pay for abortions. I’m guessing it’s 1 percent or less.