Gov. Charlie Crist vetoes abortion bill
Source: St. Pete Times
Gov. Charlie Crist vetoes abortion bill
By Lee Logan and John Frank, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Posted: Jun 11, 2010 02:23 PM
TALLAHASSEE — As he positions himself to the center in the U.S. Senate race, Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday vetoed a measure requiring most women to pay for an ultrasound and hear a description of the fetus before they can have an abortion.
"This bill places an inappropriate burden on woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy," Crist said in his veto message.
Anti-abortion advocates and Crist's Republican critics in the Legislature immediately pounced on the decision. 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."
Crist's move marks the third veto of a high-priority bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature. While lawmakers were still in session and he was still a Republican, Crist vetoed a campaign finance bill that he said would reinstate legislative "slush funds." He also vetoed a controversial teacher tenure bill that earned him wide acclaim among educators.
Now, the newly independent governor is tacking to the center in his U.S. Senate bid and polls show him attracting votes from Democrats and independents.
