Governor Charlie Crist vetoes despicable, anti-abortion HB 1143
***Update – 3:41 p.m.***Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands issued the following statement:
“The veto of House Bill 1143 is a victory for those who hold important the causes of personal freedom and less government intrusion in people’s lives. It’s a shame that Republican legislative leaders attempted to place an inappropriate burden on women seeking to terminate a pregnancy and attempted to so wrongly and unwisely expand the role of government. “I hope that the voters understand that Republican legislative leaders can’t be trusted.”
— **Update – 3:40 p.m.*** Anti-abortion advocate John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, called the veto “profoundly disappointing” and said it’s now “crystal clear that he’s pro-abortion.” — Gov. Charlie Crist has vetoed a bill that would required women seeking an abortion during the first trimester to undergo an ultrasound exam and pay for it. Crist vetoed the bill Friday, saying it put an inappropriate burden on women seeking an abortion. The Republican-led Legislature tacked amendments onto a non-controversial health care bill (HB 1143) that also would have required women to view the live image or have it described by a doctor unless they could prove they were victims of rape, incest or domestic violence. Ultrasound exams can cost between a few hundred dollars and $1,500 and the women would have also been required to pay for the procedure. Democrats and many female Republican senators had asked Crist to veto the bill. You may read the full veto letter here. Marco Rubio reacts:
“Once again, Charlie Crist has put politics ahead of principled policy-making. 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. “Even those who agree with the outcome of the Governor’s decision should be alarmed that an issue as serious and deserving of sober deliberation as this one was treated in such a calculating, political manner. Florida deserves a U.S. senator who will think issues through and let principles, not the politics of the moment, guide their decisions. Not surprisingly, his latest decision is only the latest in a long litany of examples in which Charlie Crist has broken his word to Floridians.”
The House Majority Office reacts
:
Today, with his veto of House Bill (HB) 1143, Governor Charlie Crist chose to force Florida taxpayers to pay for elective abortions for the first time. Crist, who has repeatedly declared that pro-life Floridians could trust him to support their efforts, went back on his word and vetoed the only major legislation dealing with abortion presented to him during his term as governor.
Anti-abortion advocate John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, called the veto “profoundly disappointing” and said it’s now “crystal clear that he’s pro-abortion.”
Prayers answered, thanks be to God! This was the most outrageously intrusive, terrible bill … aside from Death Penalty being legal. Crist can’t be trusted on anything but thankfully he did ONE right thing as Gov.
Now pro-lifers can focus on a realistic goal of getting Death Penalty revoked in terrifyingly corrupt FL. Maybe when society sees we believe the guilty (and innocent on FL DR too) shouldn’t be killed by man then we can preach about the innocent.
I am a Republican and I am very pleased that Crist vetoed this bill.
This is NONE of the government’s business. It’s sort of hypocritical for Republicans to tout “less government” and yet at the same time, want the govt. to force a medical and very personal decision.. Good for you Governor! This was the right thing to do.
Excellent! He gets my vote!
Practicing Catholic- Im sorry to say this but you are nothing but a C.I.N.O.
Catholics are about promoting the culture of life from conception until natural death. Throwing the Death Penalty into your argument is completely taking the focus off of the weakest among us who do not have a voice, the child still inside the womb. It has been proven time and again that once a woman sees an ultra-sound that she will no longer want to continue with the blind and deadly procedure of abortion. I think defending innocent human life and helping women and men not make the biggest mistake of their lives is a realistic goal.
The good ole Bubba Boys always know whats best for someone else! Perhaps they should have an ultrasound so we can see the deamons that live within!
Thanks, Governor!
1. the ultrasound is nothing more than “informed consent”
2. “The bill also prohibited private health insurers that receive state or federal subsidies from
providing coverage for abortions.”
Crist has given FL, tax payer funded abortion/birth control!
Read the bill!
Despite the bill being passed by both bodies of legislature, knowing over 75% of floridians do NOT want public dollars funding abortion, despite the overwhelming majority of responses to Governor Crist’s office for PASSING this historical bill, Crist went against the DEMOCRATIC majority wishes to not waste our money on other’s personal decision and (not take away any right) require a woman to make an informed decision. As a woman, this is anti-feminist in the real sense- ignorance is best if it suits your politics. It paves the road of socialism straight into FLorida- shame on Governor, shame on any Christian who wanted a VETO (please consult God on His opinion of LIFE), and shame on those who say they are for a woman’s rights, when most who have abortions are regretful, shamed and emotionally scarred for life. Over 80% of women already pay for this- An informed decision, not deceptive one, allows the mother to make an education decision. This is deceptive humanism and socialism at its very very BEST- If you are prolife, please take a proactive role. It will get worse!
Amy: The bill does not give public dollars to abortion. The national Hyde Amendment would trump any state laws even if it did.