Originally published August 6 2005
Pataki to veto "morning-after pill" bill
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
New York Gov. George Pataki plans to veto legislation that would allow women to buy the "morning-after" pill without a prescription, a decision described by abortion rights advocates as "sheer political expediency" to build conservative support for a 2008 presidential run.
Pataki spokesman Kevin Quinn had said Sunday night the governor was prepared to veto what he called the "politically expedient" legislation primarily because it "fails to include any commonsense protections for minors."
Supporters of the legislation immediately claimed the governor's veto plan was the product of his flirtation with a run for the 2008 GOP presidential nod and his desire to appeal to conservatives nationally who dominate the nominating process.
"It's unfortunate that as he looks to run for president he would toss away his principled legacy for sheer political expediency," said Kelli Conlin, executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League's Pro-Choice New York affiliate.
"He was the first governor in the nation to make RU-486 abortions covered under Medicaid," Conlin said.
"The governor has consistently supported measures to protect minors and ensure that they receive appropriate and responsible individual medical care," the Pataki aide said.
A Republican group that supports abortion rights, which has about 10,000 members in New York and close ties to Pataki, called on the governor to change his mind.
"It's the responsibility of government to protect people who are teenagers and may not know better and get wrong signals sent to them."
Republican strategists have said Pataki's biggest hurdle if he seeks national office will likely be his support, as governor, for abortion and gay rights as well as strict gun-control legislation.
In fact, word of Pataki's veto plan came after aides learned NARAL's New York chapter was preparing to begin a television advertising campaign Monday in New York, Iowa and New Hampshire that notes his possible interest in running for the White House and his past support for reproductive rights as it urges approval of the measure.
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