News

Friday June 11, 2010


Breaking: Florida Governor Crist Vetoes Abortion Ultrasound Bill

By Kathleen Gilbert

Updated 5:30pm EST 6.14.10

TALLAHASSEE, June 11, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who has repeatedly claimed to be a pro-life politician, has vetoed a measure that would have required an ultrasound to be performed on abortion-bound women after weeks of high-pressure lobbying on both sides of the abortion issue in the state.

The bill was seen as potentially a key step forward for the pro-life movement in Florida. Had it become law, abortionists would have been obligated to perform an ultrasound to show women the child they sought to abort, and describe to them the parts of the baby as revealed on the ultrasound image.

A few days before the veto, Crist, who is running as an independent for the U.S. Senate, had removed the pro-life section of his Web site.

Crist, who was lobbied heavily by both sides until the final moments before the veto, said that the bill would have put an “inappropriate burden” on women seeking abortions in the state and would “violate a woman’s right to privacy.”

In his veto statement, the governor said that “Individuals hold strong personal views on the issue of life, as do I.

“However, 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.”

Pro-life leaders reacted with disappointment to the veto.

“Governor Crist had the opportunity to stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans across the political spectrum who oppose taxpayer-funded abortion,” said Matthew Faraci, Spokesman for Americans United for Life. “By vetoing this abortion opt-out legislation, Governor Crist makes it clear that he stands with those who favor taxpayer funding of abortion.”