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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-04-06

Governor Vetoes 1042

The Guv vetoed the bill today that would have required hospitals--even Catholic hospitals--to provide information to rape victims about emergency contraception. In explaining his veto to the legislature, the Governor stressed that a. this was likely unconstitutional, and b. that the Democratic-controlled legislature could have written a bill that would accomplish the same things that would have gotten his support, but chose not to.

“It is one of the central tenets of a free society that individuals and institutions should not be coerced by the government to engage in activities that violate their moral and religious beliefs,” Owens continued. “While this bill did offer health care professionals the right to decline to offer emergency contraception due to religious or moral beliefs, it did not offer those same protections to health care institutions. This is wrong. And it is unconstitutional.”

Owens reinforced his strong concern about the victims of rape. “We want each
and every rape victim to be provided with compassionate and comprehensive
treatment,” but he also observed, “It is regrettable that three amendments
were defeated that would have provided the bill with appropriate balance,
and would have safeguarded basic freedom of conscience. Had these
amendments been adopted, this bill might well have earned my signature.”

I hope the legislature goes back to work on this one. Though, in truth, the only purpose of this bill was the coercive part:

Rep. Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch) stated, “This bill didn’t change
anything about emergency contraception. The fact is that emergency
contraception is available; this bill didn’t change that. Even if many
people disagree with abortion, it is legally available; this bill didn’t
change that. Doctors and hospitals can already provide information about
emergency contraception if they think it is in the best interest of their
patients; this bill didn’t change that. What this bill would have changed
was to give power to the government to force hospitals—especially
faith-based or religious organizations—to violate their professional ethics
and their moral principles . . .

so maybe it were best if they jst shelved this idea.
Posted by: Michael / 4/06/2005 12:06:00 AM

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