Abortion Ultrasound Bill Vetoed

Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida vetoed a bill that would have required women to have an ultrasound examination before a first-trimester abortion, but similar legislation is having more success in other states. In Louisiana, a bill requiring ultrasounds before all abortions is awaiting the signature of Gov. Bobby Jindal. In Michigan, where an ultrasound already is required before an abortion, a Senate committee is considering a bill that would mandate that the highest quality images be available at the facility where the abortion is performed. In Florida, ultrasounds are required before all second- and third-trimester abortions to determine the gestational age and location of the fetus. The Florida legislation would not have required women to look at the ultrasound images or hear a description of them. It also would have exempted victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking. Crist said in his veto message that the bill would have placed “an inappropriate burden on a woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy.”