Gov. Pawlenty asked to stand up for Commonsense Law
Minnesota Leaders Call on Gov. Pawlenty to Stand Up for Commonsense State Law Federal action could undermine measure the governor signed into law that guarantees rape survivors’ access to emergency contraception Saint Paul, Minn. – Linnea House, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, joined legislative leaders, including Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the speaker of the Minnesota House, at a news conference where they called on Gov. Tim Pawlenty to call on the Bush administration to stop action on a draft regulation that could undermine a state law that requires hospitals to provide emergency contraception in the emergency room to rape survivors. After the legislature overwhelmingly voted for the bill, Gov. Pawlenty signed the measure into law on May 4, 2007. It took effect August 1, 2007. “Last year, legislators on both sides of the debate over reproductive rights united behind a measure that provides rape survivors with the emergency contraception that could help prevent a pregnancy after a violent attack,” House said. “Gov. Pawlenty recognized the strong public support behind this commonsense measure and signed it into law. Now, just one year after the law took effect, we are urging him to call on the Bush administration to stop an attack on birth control that would undermine this state law.” The proposed regulation, which confuses the definitions of abortion and birth control, would allow health-care corporations to refuse to provide many commonly used forms of birth control, including emergency contraception that Minnesota hospitals are currently required to provide to rape survivors who request it in the emergency room. “We are talking about a compassionate law,” House said. “Let’s hope Gov. Pawlenty tells President Bush not to attack birth control as his administration comes to a close.” Contact: Avi Viswanathan, 651-602-7655
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