New York Governor To Veto Legislation Making EC Available Without Doctor's Prescription

New York Governor George Pataki (R) plans to veto legislation... (SB 3661) that would make emergency contraception available to all women in the state without a doctor's prescription, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday, the New York Times reports (Hernandez/Baker, New York Times, 8/1). The bill -- which the state Assembly approved in January and the state Senate approved in June -- would allow pharmacists and nurses to dispense EC to women without a doctor's prescription using blanket prescriptions issued by physicians, certified nurse midwives or certified nurse practitioners that do not name a specific patient. The measure would allow the pills to be dispensed to patients of any age without parental consent (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 7/13). According to Pataki spokesperson Kevin Quinn, the governor -- who supports abortion rights -- opposes the measure because it does not include age restrictions or require parental consent for minors seeking EC (Cockfield, Long Island Newsday, 8/1). However, Quinn said Pataki would support the legislation if these issues and other "flaws" in the legislation are addressed and "a responsible version of the bill is advanced" (Mahoney/Connor, New York Daily News, 8/1). The state Assembly is expected to send the measure to Pataki by Saturday (New York Times, 8/1). Pataki then will have 10 days to decide whether to sign it, veto it or allow the measure to become law without his signature (Humbert, AP/Yahoo! News, 8/1).

NARAL Pro-Choice New York Campaign
Pataki last week announced he will not seek a fourth term as governor, which some observers say indicates he might seek the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. In addition, his veto of the EC legislation could help him to gain support among conservatives, according to the Long Island Newsday (Cockfield, Long Island Newsday, 8/2). The announcement about Pataki's expected veto came after his office was informed of an impending nationwide television advertising campaign by NARAL Pro-Choice New York aimed at encouraging him to sign the EC measure, the Times reports (New York Times, 8/1). The approximately $65,000 campaign features 30-second spots -- set to air this week in New York, Iowa and New Hampshire -- that include the "Hail to the Chief" presidential anthem as background music and a female narrator emphasizing Pataki's past support for reproductive rights and urging him not to veto the EC legislation (AP/Yahoo! News, 8/1). NARAL Pro-Choice New York Executive Director Kelli Conlin said she and other abortion-rights supporters believe his opposition to the EC measure is an attempt to appease conservatives as he prepares to run for president in 2008. "This is about pandering to the right wing of the Republican Party rather than doing what's right for the women of New York," Conlin said (New York Times, 8/1). NARAL Pro-Choice New York leaders went forward with the advertisements, which began on Tuesday and suggest Pataki's potential veto is "political opportunism," the New York Times reports. Pataki aides responded that his opposition to the bill is consistent with his previous positions involving abortion rights as related to minors (Baker/Hernandez, New York Times, 8/2).

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Monday reported on Pataki's plan to veto the legislation. The segment includes comments from Pataki; Conlin; Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R); John Green, a professor of political science at the University of Akron; and Donna Williams, executive director of the New York State American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Adler, "All Things Considered," NPR, 8/1). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.


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