RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Democrats are criticizing Gov. Glenn Youngkin after he recommended rewriting bills that passed the General Assembly meant to enshrine a person’s right to contraception into state law.
“It is an essential right that every person who needs contraception care be able to access it without interference by the government,” Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond), who wrote the Senate version of the bill, told 8News.
The bill currently says that neither the state nor any locality could implement or enforce any law that prohibits someone’s access to contraception.
Youngkin’s amendments would eliminate language defining what types of contraception are covered, and how the new law would be enforced.
“The enforcement really does protect all individuals who are using contraception and medical professionals who are providing that level of care from actions by the state that would seek to criminalize their treatment programs,” said Hashmi.
Youngkin, instead, rewrote the bill to include two provisions. First, one that says that “It is the public policy of the Commonwealth that, independently of the requirements of the Constitution of the United States, individuals possess the right to access contraception.”
Second, Youngkin added language, adding a religious exemption clause to the bill.
Youngkin’s office pointed 8News to his veto statement on identical bills from last year, which said in part, “Any contraception-related changes must be coupled with robust conscience clause protections for providers.”
“This legislation only applies to our state actors. Nothing in this bill would have required an individual doctor to prescribe contraception,” Hashmi responded.
The General Assembly will consider Youngkin’s changes on Wednesday, April 2.
