Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 17, 1992 TAG: 9203170337
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Proponents of the measure quickly accused Wilder of flip-flopping because of numerous campaign statements he made in 1989 professing his support for such laws. "It appears that the governor is trying to develop a rationale for breaking his word," said Anne Kincaid, an anti-abortion activist.
Wilder, during a morning news conference, said that the legislation was poorly written and that he may not have time to properly amend it before the April 7 deadline for acting on more than 600 bills now sitting on his desk.
"I could support a measure that is properly drawn, but I don't consider the measure before me such as could be signed," the governor said.
Wilder also said he would not be swayed by the record number of letters and phone calls to his office about the bill. At the end of Friday, Wilder had received 5,105 calls and letters urging him to sign the legislation and 2,757 asking him to veto it.
"When you know that there are certain people who are against any form of abortion, and others who are against any restriction on abortion, how much credence do you give those letters?" Wilder said.
The measure would require physicians to notify at least one parent or legal guardian before performing abortions on girls under 18. Teens who do not want to tell their parents would have to seek permission from a Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge.
Wilder said the bill does not address an appeals procedure for girls who are denied permission for an abortion by a judge. He said he believes that other people, like clergymen and nurses, should also be allowed to authorize abortions.
Wilder also faulted the General Assembly for not determining the bill's cost or appropriating money to allow judges to hold hearings on abortions.
The governor said he would not be breaking a campaign commitment with a veto because he has always said that he would sign only a "well-crafted bill."
"I don't feel that I have said anything inconsistent," Wilder said.
But anti-abortion advocates said that Wilder's only stipulation during the campaign had been that the legislation allow girls to bypass their parents by receiving permission from a judge. "This bill has everything in it that the governor specified," Kincaid said.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB