This sort of slipped under the media radar, but Republican Governor Youngkin of Virginia gutted a law sent to him to protect contraception in the state. Instead of legal protections for contraception, Youngkin “amended” the law to make it essentially a suggestion that contraception stays legal in Virginia. Why would Youngkin do this? I’ve been trying to do a deep dive on this issue, but the Virginia online news outlets have only stated that Youngkin is “balancing” contraception versus other constitutional rights. HUH? I finally found what I think Youngkin was babbling about. According to what Republicans in VA are arguing, patients might “go after” their doctors if the doctor doesn’t want to prescribe a contraceptive.
This from the same group that wanted to a 15 week abortion ban with limited exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother. It didn’t come to pass because Democrats won the VA legislature in 2023, so there was no final bill to ban abortion. But if there was such a bill, wouldn’t doctors go to prison if they performed an abortion after 15 weeks? I don’t think that would be “protecting doctors” either, but you cannot have a ban without their being penalties for breaking the law.
Yes, Youngkin and his ilk are trying to have it both ways on another reproductive health issue.
The original bill states that health care providers have the right to prescribe contraceptives, and individuals have the right to obtain and use them. The measure did not pertain to abortion and defined contraceptives as any drug or device legally marketed and intended for use in the “prevention of pregnancy.” It created a right to file a lawsuit over violations and did not have a fiscal impact.
Youngkin struck that language, and put forth a Section 1 bill stating it shall be the “public policy of the Commonwealth, independently of the requirements of the Constitution of the United States, that individuals possess the right to access contraception as set forth in Griswold v. Connecticut, and Eisenstadt v. Baird.”…
Republican legislators who opposed the bill previously argued the legislation would harm health care providers.
Del. Keith Hodges, R-Urbanna, said it would allow women to “go after” doctors who refuse to prescribe them birth control pills because they have underlying conditions, such as hypertension, that make it dangerous for them to take the pill. Hodges did not respond to a request from The Virginian-Pilot in February asking if any medical associations had shared concerns with him about the bill.
Emphasis is mine. Youngkin just restates that earlier SCOTUS precedents protects contraception as a right. And if you are throwing something at your computer screen, I don’t blame you. The whole point of this law was to protect contraception from the reactionary SCOTUS that took away the right to an abortion (throwing out precedent).
But you notice that Republicans and Youngkin are not talking about any medical assocations having issues with the law. In fact, if you read the article, several medical groups SUPPORTED THE PROPOSED BILL TO PROTECT CONTRACEPTION! So this is complete BS.
Maybe some Kossacks in VA can find more on Youngkin’s “reasoning” for gutting a law to protect contraception? I have tried multiple online sources, and most don’t bother to examine or state what Youngkin based his shitty decision on. You have plenty on why Democrats and some Republicans voted for the bill, but when it comes to Youngkin’s lie? Little to nada.
