Urge Gov to STOP Abortion-Inducing Drug Mandate!
Is the Governor questioning what to do with extremely harmful bills that would create a right to abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures, violate religious liberty and undercut parental rights?
In a recent Richmond Times Dispatch article Governor Youngkin offered these comments regarding the “right to contraceptive bills” that are before him for final action:
“I also believe we have to protect our constitutional rights, particularly under our First Amendment,” Youngkin said, noting that he thought the amendment he had sent the legislature accomplished that. “So we’re working through how to how to ensure both,” he added.
Youngkin said: “There’s other things I can do as well … I’ll let you know.”
He added: “I think this is a chance for us to affirm and commit ourselves to the right to access to contraception, but also to make sure we’re protecting our First Amendment rights as well.”
Below are the bills he’s talking about.
HB 609 (D - Price) and SB 237 (D-Hashmi), creates a presumed right to contraceptive drugs and devices that can result in an abortion, without any religious protections for doctors or prescribers.
The bill states that “[a] person shall have the right to obtain contraceptives and to engage in contraception.” Since “person” is not limited to adults, this would presumably include minors. The bill would also give minors the right to contraception including the “the use of sterilization procedures," the legislation would actually give minors the presumed right to sterilization procedures and undermine the parental consent law for minors to have a surgical procedure.
Governor Youngkin proposed an amendment to limit the bill’s scope aligned with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, but the amendment failed during the General Assembly’s April 17 “veto session.”
HB 819 (D-Mundon King) and SB 238 (D-Hashmi), would require all health insurance companies to cover the cost of contraceptive drugs and devices that include abortion causing drugs, including over-the-counter contraceptives, without any religious protections for providers. Governor Youngkin's proposed amendment to these bills, which would have provided an exemption for health plan sponsors whose religious beliefs or conscience would be violated, also failed during the "veto session."
These bills are now before the Governor for final action, and he has until May 17 to either sign or veto them. Of course, he can act on these bills at any time, so your voice is needed now!
