Posted on 03/26/2002 11:13:54 PM PST by nickcarraway
Kiss doesn't expect abortion veto override
By The Associated Press
State officials said that Gov. Bob Wise's veto of a hotly debated abortion bill likely buried the issue for now, but the bill's advocates pledge they won't stop fighting.
Late Friday, Wise vetoed a bill that would require women have more information about abortions at least 24 hours before they go through the procedure.
Wise cited concerns from the medical community that such information was already provided, the bill was too onerous on them and their safety could be put in jeopardy in rejecting the bill.
The Legislature passed the bill by sizable margins in both houses, approving it for the first time in many tries. But Wise said Monday he's not willing to call the Legislature back to revisit the issue.
"I didn't veto it just to have a special session on it," Wise said. "I vetoed it to put it to rest for this year."
House Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, said legislators are not likely to go through the expense and time of a special session just for that bill.
"It's not the type of thing that I think we would be likely to call a special session for," Kiss said.
Bill supporters, however, say they may be able to force Wise's hand to push such important legislation.
The bill would require that women provide voluntary and informed consent before receiving an abortion.
Doctors would have to tell women 24 hours in advance about the medical risks involved with abortions and giving birth, as well as the age of the fetus at the time of the abortion. Doctors could face license suspensions and revocations for repeated violations.
Wise was inundated by bill supporters and opponents with input to sway his decision. Ultimately, he sided with complaints from doctors and abortion rights supporters.
"I think that women are smart enough to make their own decisions, and I don't think we ought to be taking doctors and putting them in a very, very unfair situation," Wise said.
Wise bristled at the suggestion he would be labeled as an abortion supporter. He also defended his move to sign the bill late Friday when public scrutiny was relaxed.
Kiss said legislators could force a special session on the matter but that likely won't happen. The state Constitution requires Wise to call a special session when three-fifths of the Legislature signs a petition asking for one.
Kiss said Wise would have control of all other special sessions.
"As much as I disagree with Wise, our President needs to learn from him. Wise knows his constituents well, and knows how to deliver for them."
My first thought was ... of course, if the thought processes of your constituents operated the way you wanted, then a fair statement to make is that your consituents are capable of making wise decisions.
Abortion Opponents believe that the data used to 'educate' abortion PROponents produces faulty thinking.
Wise is wise, here. He knows the majority of people today are the result of 40 years' worth of effective dumbnication of American 'yout's', and can move freely in and around this issue ... as any pol can do these days.
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